What you’ll learn
Find least common multiple.
Key idea
The least common multiple is the first shared positive entry in increasing lists.
Worked example
Enter the exact value or ordered values in the format requested below.
Find the least positive common multiple of 3 and 8.
- Positive multiples of 3 through the first match are [3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24].
- The first entry also divisible by 8 is 24; both quotients 8 and 3 are whole.
Answer: 24
Quick Check
Evaluate a worked attempt at find least common multiple, identify the first invalid step, and provide the correction.
A student writes Step 1: 12 is divisible by both 6 and 2. Step 2: therefore it is their least positive common multiple. Locate the first invalid step and correct it.