LCM( 144, 176, 256 ) = 25344
Step 1 : Write the given numbers in a horizontal line.
| 144 | 176 | 256 |
Step 2 : Divide the given numbers by smallest prime number. In this example we can divide by 2.
(if any number is not divisible by 2, write it down unchanged)
| 2 | 144 | 176 | 256 |
| 72 | 88 | 128 |
Step 3 : Continue dividing by prime numbers till we get 1 in all columns.
| 2 | 144 | 176 | 256 |
| 2 | 72 | 88 | 128 |
| 2 | 36 | 44 | 64 |
| 2 | 18 | 22 | 32 |
| 2 | 9 | 11 | 16 |
| 2 | 9 | 11 | 8 |
| 2 | 9 | 11 | 4 |
| 2 | 9 | 11 | 2 |
| 3 | 9 | 11 | 1 |
| 3 | 3 | 11 | 1 |
| 11 | 1 | 11 | 1 |
| 1 | 1 | 1 |
Step 4 : Multiply numbers in first column to get LCM.
LCM( 144, 176, 256 ) = 2 · 2 · 2 · 2 · 2 · 2 · 2 · 2 · 3 · 3 · 11 = 25344 .
This solution can be visualized using a Venn diagram.
The LCM is equal to the product of all the numbers on the diagram.