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The reason we do not use zero as the least common multiple (LCM) of two numbers is because the LCM is defined as the smallest positive integer that is divisible by both numbers. Since zero is not a positive integer, it cannot be considered as the LCM of any two numbers. The LCM is always a positive value that is greater than zero

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9091.liton

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8y ago

The concepts of GCF and LCM are restricted to positive integers. Zero can be considered a multiple of every number. That would make it the LCM of every set of positive integers, making the concept essentially meaningless.

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Q: Why do we not use zero as a least common multiple of two numbers?
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What are the common multiples of 18 and 27?

The common multiples of 18 and 27 are 54, 108, 162, 216, and so on. Each is a multiple of 54, which is the least common multiple of 18 and 27. There is an infinite number of common multiples for 18 and 27. A common multiple of any two or more numbers is any number into which each of two or more numbers can be divided evenly (zero remainder).


What are the common multiples of 12 15 and 22?

There is an infinite number of common multiples for 12 15 and 22. A common multiple of any two or more numbers is any number into which each of two or more numbers can be divided evenly (zero remainder). However, the least or lowest common multiple (LCM) of 12 15 and 22 is 660.


What is the least common multiple of 0 12 and 10?

The LCM is a concept that makes sense for a set of non-zero integers. Otherwise, 0 is always the LCM of any set of numbers - even if none of them is 0.


What is the LCM of 70 and 280?

The least common multiple (LCM) of two numbers is the smallest number (not zero) that is a multiple of both.Multiples of 70 are0,70,140,210,280,350.......Multiples of 280 are0,280,560,840......So the LCM of 70 and 280 is nothing but 280


What is a least common multiple?

The least common multiple (LCM) is the smallest multiple that is common to two or more numbers.Example: The LCM of 4 and 6 is 12, it is the smallest integer greater than zero that has both 4 and 6 as factors.Example: Take the numbers 7 and 2. There is no number smaller than 14 that you can divide by BOTH 7 and 2 and get an integer answer. (An integer is a whole number). Therefore, 14 is the LCM for 7 and 2.Sometimes, the LCM is one of the numbers itself. For example, the LCM of 4 and 8 is 8, because 8 is divisible by 4 and 8.The least common multiple, or LCM, is the smallest number that a set of given numbers will divide into evenly.The least (lowest) common multiple, or LCM, is the smallest positive integer that all the members of a given set of numbers will divide into evenly with no remainder.The least common multiple, or LCM, is the smallest positive integer that all the members of a given set of numbers will divide into evenly with no remainder.

Related questions

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Because zero is a multiple of all numbers. It's not really helpful as a distinguishing characteristic.