Least Common Multiple (LCM) of 12 and 31
The least common multiple (LCM) of 12 and 31 is 372.
What is the Least Common Multiple (LCM)?
The LCM of two integers is the smallest positive integer that is divisible by both numbers. It is often used to find common denominators and solve problems involving periodic events.
Formula for LCM
The LCM of two numbers can be calculated using their GCD:
LCM(a, b) = |a × b| ÷ GCD(a, b)
How to Calculate the LCM of 12 and 31?
First, calculate the GCD of 12 and 31 using the Euclidean algorithm. Then use the formula above to find the LCM.
Step-by-Step GCD Calculation
| Step | Calculation |
|---|---|
| 1 | 12 ÷ 31 = 0 remainder 12 |
| 2 | 31 ÷ 12 = 2 remainder 7 |
| 3 | 12 ÷ 7 = 1 remainder 5 |
| 4 | 7 ÷ 5 = 1 remainder 2 |
| 5 | 5 ÷ 2 = 2 remainder 1 |
| 6 | 2 ÷ 1 = 2 remainder 0 |
Examples of LCM Calculations
| Numbers | LCM |
|---|---|
| 156 and 22 | 1716 |
| 162 and 149 | 24138 |
| 142 and 88 | 6248 |
| 157 and 82 | 12874 |
| 38 and 47 | 1786 |