Least Common Multiple (LCM) of 42 and 78
The least common multiple (LCM) of 42 and 78 is 546.
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 78?
First, calculate the GCD of 42 and 78 using the Euclidean algorithm. Then use the formula above to find the LCM.
Step-by-Step GCD Calculation
| Step | Calculation |
|---|---|
| 1 | 42 ÷ 78 = 0 remainder 42 |
| 2 | 78 ÷ 42 = 1 remainder 36 |
| 3 | 42 ÷ 36 = 1 remainder 6 |
| 4 | 36 ÷ 6 = 6 remainder 0 |
Examples of LCM Calculations
| Numbers | LCM |
|---|---|
| 170 and 12 | 1020 |
| 137 and 159 | 21783 |
| 81 and 91 | 7371 |
| 22 and 147 | 3234 |
| 111 and 161 | 17871 |