LCM( 36, 42, 48, 38 ) = 19152
Step 1 : Write the given numbers in a horizontal line.
| 36 | 42 | 48 | 38 |
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 | 36 | 42 | 48 | 38 |
| 18 | 21 | 24 | 19 |
Step 3 : Continue dividing by prime numbers till we get 1 in all columns.
| 2 | 36 | 42 | 48 | 38 |
| 2 | 18 | 21 | 24 | 19 |
| 2 | 9 | 21 | 12 | 19 |
| 2 | 9 | 21 | 6 | 19 |
| 3 | 9 | 21 | 3 | 19 |
| 3 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 19 |
| 7 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 19 |
| 19 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 19 |
| 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Step 4 : Multiply numbers in first column to get LCM.
LCM( 36, 42, 48, 38 ) = 2 · 2 · 2 · 2 · 3 · 3 · 7 · 19 = 19152 .