Question

what is the fastest way to find the least common multiple of 32 and 56? (not using a calculator)

Answer 1

if you know the gcd of the two numbers, it would be :
\[\frac{(32)(56)}{\gcd(32,56)}\]

Answer 2

gcd of 32 and 56 looks like 16, so:
\[lcm(32,56) = \frac{(32)(56)}{16} = 2(56) = 112\]

Answer 3

...which is wrong <.< ugh

Answer 4

prime factorization then mutiply the greatest exponent

Answer 5

ah, gcd(32,56) = 8, not 16, so it should really be:
\[lcm(32,56) = \frac{(32)(56)}{8} = 4(56) = 224\]
which is the right answer.