How do you figure LCM of 12 and 16?

Answer 1

First factorise the two numbers. It is best to write the factors out in incrasing order. Whether or not you use power or exponent notation is up to you.

12 = 2.2.3 = 22*3 and 16 = 2*2*2*2 = 24. Then for the LCM, take each factor in turn. Find the maximum number of times that it appears in the factorisation of the two numbers (equivalently, find the highest power for that factor in the factorisations). Write that down for the LCM. Move to the next prime factor. Continue until you have exhausted all he factors.

So here, 2 has an exponent 2 in 12 and an exponent 4 in 16. So for the LCM, 2 must have an exponent of 4. 3 has an exponent of 1 in 12 and 0 in 16 (REMEMBER: 30 = 1). And that is the end of the factors.

So LCM = 24*31 = 48