Least Common Multiple (LCM) of 16 and 42
The least common multiple (LCM) of 16 and 42 is 336.
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 16 and 42?
First, calculate the GCD of 16 and 42 using the Euclidean algorithm. Then use the formula above to find the LCM.
Step-by-Step GCD Calculation
| Step | Calculation |
|---|---|
| 1 | 16 ÷ 42 = 0 remainder 16 |
| 2 | 42 ÷ 16 = 2 remainder 10 |
| 3 | 16 ÷ 10 = 1 remainder 6 |
| 4 | 10 ÷ 6 = 1 remainder 4 |
| 5 | 6 ÷ 4 = 1 remainder 2 |
| 6 | 4 ÷ 2 = 2 remainder 0 |
Examples of LCM Calculations
| Numbers | LCM |
|---|---|
| 45 and 191 | 8595 |
| 178 and 38 | 3382 |
| 173 and 175 | 30275 |
| 27 and 77 | 2079 |
| 189 and 191 | 36099 |