Least Common Multiple (LCM) of 72 and 187
The least common multiple (LCM) of 72 and 187 is 13464.
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 72 and 187?
First, calculate the GCD of 72 and 187 using the Euclidean algorithm. Then use the formula above to find the LCM.
Step-by-Step GCD Calculation
| Step | Calculation |
|---|---|
| 1 | 72 ÷ 187 = 0 remainder 72 |
| 2 | 187 ÷ 72 = 2 remainder 43 |
| 3 | 72 ÷ 43 = 1 remainder 29 |
| 4 | 43 ÷ 29 = 1 remainder 14 |
| 5 | 29 ÷ 14 = 2 remainder 1 |
| 6 | 14 ÷ 1 = 14 remainder 0 |
Examples of LCM Calculations
| Numbers | LCM |
|---|---|
| 140 and 194 | 13580 |
| 85 and 58 | 4930 |
| 114 and 173 | 19722 |
| 56 and 37 | 2072 |
| 72 and 21 | 504 |