Finding the least common multiple (LCM) of two numbers can be a useful tool in solving various math problems. In this post, we’ll focus on finding the LCM of 4 and 6.
First, let’s define what LCM means. The LCM of two or more numbers is the smallest number that is a multiple of each of the given numbers. In other words, it’s the lowest number that both numbers divide into evenly.
To find the LCM of 4 and 6, we can use a few different methods. One method is to list out the multiples of each number until we find the smallest one they have in common.
Multiples of 4: 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40…
Multiples of 6: 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, 42, 48, 54, 60…
As we can see from the lists above, the smallest number that appears in both lists is 12. Therefore, the LCM of 4 and 6 is 12.
Another method for finding the LCM is to use prime factorization. To do this, we break down each number into its prime factors:
4 = 2 x 2
6 = 2 x 3
Next, we take each unique prime factor and raise it to the highest power it occurs in either number:
2^2 x 3^1 = 12
Again, we see that the LCM of 4 and 6 is 12.
In conclusion, finding the LCM of two numbers like 4 and 6 can be done by listing out their multiples or using prime factorization. Either way, we’ll end up with the same answer – the smallest number that is a multiple of both.