Least Common Multiple (LCM) of 15 and 42
The least common multiple (LCM) of 15 and 42 is 210.
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 15 and 42?
First, calculate the GCD of 15 and 42 using the Euclidean algorithm. Then use the formula above to find the LCM.
Step-by-Step GCD Calculation
| Step | Calculation |
|---|---|
| 1 | 15 ÷ 42 = 0 remainder 15 |
| 2 | 42 ÷ 15 = 2 remainder 12 |
| 3 | 15 ÷ 12 = 1 remainder 3 |
| 4 | 12 ÷ 3 = 4 remainder 0 |
Examples of LCM Calculations
| Numbers | LCM |
|---|---|
| 172 and 54 | 4644 |
| 10 and 53 | 530 |
| 55 and 61 | 3355 |
| 154 and 168 | 1848 |
| 180 and 13 | 2340 |