Lcm Of 16 And 12

LCM of 12 and 16 How to Find LCM of 12, 16? from www.cuemath.com

Introduction

In mathematics, LCM stands for the Least Common Multiple. It is an important concept that is used to find the smallest number that is a multiple of two or more numbers. In this article, we will discuss the LCM of 16 and 12.

What is LCM?

LCM is the smallest number that is divisible by two or more numbers without leaving a remainder. In other words, it is the smallest common multiple of two or more numbers. For example, the LCM of 3 and 4 is 12 because 12 is the smallest number that is divisible by both 3 and 4.

How to find LCM?

There are many methods to find the LCM of two or more numbers. One of the most common methods is the prime factorization method. In this method, we find the prime factors of each number and multiply them together. For example, to find the LCM of 16 and 12, we first find the prime factors of both numbers.

Prime factorization of 16:

16 = 2 x 2 x 2 x 2

Prime factorization of 12:

12 = 2 x 2 x 3

Using prime factorization to find LCM

To find the LCM of 16 and 12, we multiply the highest power of each prime factor together. 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 3 = 48 Therefore, the LCM of 16 and 12 is 48. This means that 48 is the smallest number that is divisible by both 16 and 12 without leaving a remainder.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the LCM of 16 and 12 is 48. LCM is an important concept in mathematics that is used to find the smallest number that is divisible by two or more numbers. There are many methods to find the LCM, but the prime factorization method is one of the most common and easiest methods.