Least Common Multiple (LCM) of 42 and 144
The least common multiple (LCM) of 42 and 144 is 1008.
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 42 and 144?
First, calculate the GCD of 42 and 144 using the Euclidean algorithm. Then use the formula above to find the LCM.
Step-by-Step GCD Calculation
| Step | Calculation |
|---|---|
| 1 | 42 ÷ 144 = 0 remainder 42 |
| 2 | 144 ÷ 42 = 3 remainder 18 |
| 3 | 42 ÷ 18 = 2 remainder 6 |
| 4 | 18 ÷ 6 = 3 remainder 0 |
Examples of LCM Calculations
| Numbers | LCM |
|---|---|
| 42 and 18 | 126 |
| 59 and 104 | 6136 |
| 165 and 81 | 4455 |
| 196 and 147 | 588 |
| 196 and 66 | 6468 |