How was LCM invented?

Answer 1

The concept of the least common multiple (LCM) has roots in ancient mathematics, with early contributions from civilizations such as the Babylonians and Greeks. They developed methods for finding multiples of numbers, which laid the groundwork for the formal definition of LCM. The systematic approach to finding LCM was further refined over time, particularly through the work of later mathematicians who formalized algorithms, such as prime factorization and the relationship between LCM and the greatest common divisor (GCD). Thus, while there isn't a single inventor of LCM, its development is a cumulative achievement in mathematical history.