LCM( 400, 456, 356 ) = 2029200
Step 1 : Write the given numbers in a horizontal line.
| 400 | 456 | 356 |
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 | 400 | 456 | 356 |
| 200 | 228 | 178 |
Step 3 : Continue dividing by prime numbers till we get 1 in all columns.
| 2 | 400 | 456 | 356 |
| 2 | 200 | 228 | 178 |
| 2 | 100 | 114 | 89 |
| 2 | 50 | 57 | 89 |
| 3 | 25 | 57 | 89 |
| 5 | 25 | 19 | 89 |
| 5 | 5 | 19 | 89 |
| 19 | 1 | 19 | 89 |
| 89 | 1 | 1 | 89 |
| 1 | 1 | 1 |
Step 4 : Multiply numbers in first column to get LCM.
LCM( 400, 456, 356 ) = 2 · 2 · 2 · 2 · 3 · 5 · 5 · 19 · 89 = 2029200 .
This solution can be visualized using a Venn diagram.
The LCM is equal to the product of all the numbers on the diagram.