Question

iam 12 yrs old having trouble finding an easy way to find the least common multiple for number pairs.... help

Answer 1

how can we help?

Answer 2

i just need help with my math its least common multiple

Answer 3

do you have any examples you would like to work on or should we start working on random ones?

Answer 4

i have one its the least common multiple of 8 and 20 its iether 2 or 4

Answer 5

Ok, are you sure that you are trying to find the least common multiple or the greatest common factor?

Answer 6

least common multiple it says it on the paper my teacher hand this to me and two others and told me i need it in by monday or i fail

Answer 7

ok well least common multiple is a number that is BIGGER than the two numbers you have and both of the numbers you have can be multiplied into it

Answer 8

since 2 and 4 are smaller than both 8 and 20, we know they cannot be LCMs of them

Answer 9

this is all confusing to me

Answer 10

a least common multiple can also be the same as the biggest of the numbers that you have

Answer 11

well lets look at the name itself then:

Answer 12

least means smallest
common means that both relate to it
and multiple means that if you multiply either of the numbers you have, you will get a multiple

Answer 13

so a least common multiple is the smallest number that both of the numbers you have, can fit into a certain amount of times

Answer 14

im just confused becuase i dont get how you find it

Answer 15

and my teacher is no help

Answer 16

ok well we know that it has to be at least the value of the biggest number you have

Answer 17

so lets start their, and after we work through the most basic methods of finding a LCM, we can work on faster methods

Answer 18

there*

Answer 19

so 20 is the bigger of the two numbers (8 and 20)

Answer 20

but 8 doesnt divide into 20 without a remainder or a decimal

Answer 21

ok

Answer 22

so that wont work

Answer 23

why is math so cunfusing

Answer 24

the next one we have is 40, because no number in between 20 and 40 will divide by 20, we have to jump all the way to 40

Answer 25

it isint, it just takes practice

Answer 26

so, is 40 divisible by 8?

Answer 27

yes

Answer 28

then that is your least common multiple, see how we started at 20, because it was the farthest down we can go without being lower than 8 and 20, and because it wasnt divisible by 8 we had to go up, and the next available number that was STILL divisible by 20 was 40, we went to 40, and 40 is divisible by both 20 and 8

Answer 29

ok

Answer 30

now what about 120 and 5

Answer 31

well lets start at 120, because that is the lowest we can go right?

Answer 32

i think

Answer 33

anything lower than 120 will be LESS than our two numbers (120 and 5) so we can NOT go lower than 120

Answer 34

so, we start at 120, is 120 divisible by 5?

Answer 35

yess

Answer 36

there ya go!

Answer 37

wut i have no idea what is going on

Answer 38

ok well do you get why we started at 120?

Answer 39

no

Answer 40

remember the definition of a LCM, it has to be bigger than both of your numbers or the same as the biggest of your numbers

Answer 41

we have 5 and 120, since a LCM has to be bigger than both or equal to the biggest, it has to be at least 120

Answer 42

i still dont get this al the numbers just look like letters to me

Answer 43

literally like letters, or youre just confused?

Answer 44

wait nevermind i wus looking at my english homework

Answer 45

....???

Answer 46

i have alot of homework

Answer 47

well how about we finish math first, since it is more important (you dont want to fail) and since you have me available and i have to go eventually

Answer 48

i have to go right now cuz its 11:00 and i have somewhere to go tomarrow

Answer 49

ok...

Answer 50

so then you dont want to learn how to find LCMs?