LCM( 91, 45, 96 ) = 131040
Step 1 : Write the given numbers in a horizontal line.
| 91 | 45 | 96 |
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 | 91 | 45 | 96 |
| 91 | 45 | 48 |
Step 3 : Continue dividing by prime numbers till we get 1 in all columns.
| 2 | 91 | 45 | 96 |
| 2 | 91 | 45 | 48 |
| 2 | 91 | 45 | 24 |
| 2 | 91 | 45 | 12 |
| 2 | 91 | 45 | 6 |
| 3 | 91 | 45 | 3 |
| 3 | 91 | 15 | 1 |
| 5 | 91 | 5 | 1 |
| 7 | 91 | 1 | 1 |
| 13 | 13 | 1 | 1 |
| 1 | 1 | 1 |
Step 4 : Multiply numbers in first column to get LCM.
LCM( 91, 45, 96 ) = 2 · 2 · 2 · 2 · 2 · 3 · 3 · 5 · 7 · 13 = 131040 .
This solution can be visualized using a Venn diagram.
The LCM is equal to the product of all the numbers on the diagram.