A bookcase has been designed so that it can hold an exact number of box files of width 12cm. It can also hold an exact number of box files of width 16cm and an exact number of box files of width 20cm.What is the least possible width of the bookcase?

Question

danjs · Answer

since nothing is said about the depth, i assume they can only be oriented one way

tinash · Answer

I don't even know to be honest

danjs · Answer

oh i see

danjs · Answer

You need a width for the shelf that will evenly be divided by all the given widths, Least common multiple of those numbers... sound familiar?

tinash · Answer

Yeah but I don't know how to do it! :(

danjs · Answer

you can list multiples of the three numbers and pick the first one that each has in common...

danjs · Answer

12, 24 , 36 , 48 , 60 , .......

16, 32 , 48 , 64 , 80 ....

20, 40 , 60, 80 , 100 .....

danjs · Answer

keep going further with the numbers till you get the smallest one tha tall 3 have in common, that is the least common multipole.. http://www.mathsisfun.com/least-common-multiple.html

danjs · Answer

gl

tinash · Answer

thank you