What is the LCM of 3 10 12 8?

Answer 1

To find the LCM of four numbers you first have to express these numbers as products of their prime factors. In the case of 3, 10, 12 and 8, this is:

3 = 3

10 = 2x5

12 = 2x2x3

8 = 2x2x2

The next step is to identify and discard any common prime factor duplicates. In this case, three numbers have a 2, so we can discard two of them. Two numbers have a second 2, so we can discard one of them. Two numbers have a 3, so we can discard one of them. Thus, the prime factors left are 2, 2, 2, 3 and 5. Multiply these together to find the LCM:

2x2x2x3x5 = 120

Thus the LCM of 3, 10, 12 and 8 is 120.