LCM( 12, 54, 66 ) = 1188
Step 1: Write down factorisation of each number:
12 = 2 · 2 · 3
54 = 2 · 3 · 3 · 3
66 = 2 · 3 · 11
Step 2 : Match primes vertically:
| 12 | = | 2 | · | 2 | · | 3 | ||||||
| 54 | = | 2 | · | 3 | · | 3 | · | 3 | ||||
| 66 | = | 2 | · | 3 | · | 11 |
Step 3 : Bring down numbers in each column and multiply to get LCM:
| 12 | = | 2 | · | 2 | · | 3 | ||||||||
| 54 | = | 2 | · | 3 | · | 3 | · | 3 | ||||||
| 66 | = | 2 | · | 3 | · | 11 | ||||||||
| LCM | = | 2 | · | 2 | · | 3 | · | 3 | · | 3 | · | 11 | = | 1188 |
This solution can be visualized using a Venn diagram.
The LCM is equal to the product of all the numbers on the diagram.