Least Common Multiple (LCM) of 21 and 72
The least common multiple (LCM) of 21 and 72 is 504.
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 21 and 72?
First, calculate the GCD of 21 and 72 using the Euclidean algorithm. Then use the formula above to find the LCM.
Step-by-Step GCD Calculation
| Step | Calculation |
|---|---|
| 1 | 21 ÷ 72 = 0 remainder 21 |
| 2 | 72 ÷ 21 = 3 remainder 9 |
| 3 | 21 ÷ 9 = 2 remainder 3 |
| 4 | 9 ÷ 3 = 3 remainder 0 |
Examples of LCM Calculations
| Numbers | LCM |
|---|---|
| 18 and 46 | 414 |
| 157 and 168 | 26376 |
| 60 and 136 | 2040 |
| 118 and 38 | 2242 |
| 149 and 158 | 23542 |