LCM( 30, 40, 50 ) = 600
Step 1: Write down factorisation of each number:
30 = 2 · 3 · 5
40 = 2 · 2 · 2 · 5
50 = 2 · 5 · 5
Step 2 : Match primes vertically:
| 30 | = | 2 | · | 3 | · | 5 | ||||||
| 40 | = | 2 | · | 2 | · | 2 | · | 5 | ||||
| 50 | = | 2 | · | 5 | · | 5 |
Step 3 : Bring down numbers in each column and multiply to get LCM:
| 30 | = | 2 | · | 3 | · | 5 | ||||||||
| 40 | = | 2 | · | 2 | · | 2 | · | 5 | ||||||
| 50 | = | 2 | · | 5 | · | 5 | ||||||||
| LCM | = | 2 | · | 2 | · | 2 | · | 3 | · | 5 | · | 5 | = | 600 |
This solution can be visualized using a Venn diagram.
The LCM is equal to the product of all the numbers on the diagram.