whats the LCM of 5, 8, and 12?
2007-10-03 10:16:40 · 9 answers · asked by rhiiiwind 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Mathematics
all 3 of those numbers go into 120
5 goes into it 24 times
8 goes into it 15 times
12 foes into it 9 times
sorry i forgot what a least common multiple is but i hope i helped
2007-10-03 10:22:10 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wow, I hope ExO11287 doesn't give that answer on a quiz.
The "L" stands for LOWEST. 480 is not the lowest. If you don't get the lowest, it doesn't count.
Usually the easiest way to do it by hand is first to find the prime factors of all the numbers (just try dividing small prime numbers into the 5, 8 and 12):
5 = 5 (it's already prime)
8 = 2 * 2 * 2
12 = 2 * 2 * 3
Now just combine those prime factors into a product. But use the minimum amount you can which still includes all the factors of all three numbers.
You need one "5" (that takes care of the "5")
You need three "2"s (that takes care of the 2's in 8 and 12)
You need one "3" (that takes care of the 3 in 12)
So: the LCM is
2 * 2 * 2 * 5 * 3 = 120
===Edit=== Don't rely on the method given by gopadres04. It will not work, for example, in finding the LCM of 6, 10 and 36.
2007-10-03 10:25:57 · answer #2 · answered by RickB 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The least common multiple is the lowest number that can be divided evenly by the numbers you are starting with. Multiplying all your numbers together will indeed give you a multiple, but it is not necessarily the LEAST common multple.
120 is the answer for these numbers. One way to do it is to list several multiples of each of your numbers (1*5,2*5,3*5,etc then do the same with 8 and 12) and then see what is the lowest product they all have in common. LCM will always be at least as large as the largest number you are starting with as you are multiplying to get it. Dont get confused with GCF--greatest common factor.
Good Luck!!
2007-10-03 10:44:35 · answer #3 · answered by jesbrakel 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The LCM of 5,8 and 12 is 120
2007-10-03 10:28:05 · answer #4 · answered by Justin C 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
LCM = 120
2007-10-03 10:29:35 · answer #5 · answered by HONEY M 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
120
you know that it has to end in zero b/c 8 and 12 are even number so i just 8*5 8*10 8*15
2007-10-03 10:26:33 · answer #6 · answered by nowaaaaaay 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
3x+5 and x+8=(3x+5(x+8) LCM of x+1, 2x-3,=(x+1()2x-3).answer. i hope you understand how?
2016-04-07 02:21:41 · answer #7 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
120
A hint to solving these is to multiply all of the numbers together and then keep dividing by 2, till you get the lowest number that is still divisible by your three given numbers (into whole numbers).
2007-10-03 10:29:39 · answer #8 · answered by gopadres04 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you can't find a lowest common multiple then just multiply them together. 480
2007-10-03 10:21:55 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋