least common multiple

n. Abbr. lcm The smallest quantity that is divisible by two or more given quantities without a remainder: 12 is the least common multiple of 2, 3, 4, and 6. Also called lowest common multiple.

least common multiple

n (Mathematics) another name for lowest common multiple

low′est com′mon mul′tiple

n. the smallest number that is a common multiple of a given set of numbers.

Thesaurus

Noun

least common multiple - the smallest multiple that is exactly divisible by every member of a set of numbers; "the least common multiple of 12 and 18 is 36"lcm, lowest common multiplemultiple - the product of a quantity by an integer; "36 is a multiple of 9"

Least Common Multiple

least common multiple

[′lēst ′käm·ən ′məl·tə·pəl] (mathematics) The least common multiple of a set of quantities (for example, numbers or polynomials) is the smallest quantity divisible by each of them. Abbreviated lcm.

Least Common Multiple

The least common multiple (LCM) of two or several natural numbers is the smallest positive number exactly divisible by each of the given numbers. For example, the LCM of 2 and 3 is 6, and the LCM of 6, 8, 9, 15, and 20 is 360. Least common multiples are used in adding and subtracting fractions; the least common denominator of two or several fractions is the LCM of their denominators. If we know the prime factors of the given numbers, then the LCM of these numbers is the product of all the factors, each taken the greatest number of times it occurs in any one of the numbers. Thus 6 = 2.3, 8 = 2.2.2, 9 = 3.3, 15 = 3–5, and 20 = 2–2–5; therefore, the LCM of 6, 8, 9, 15, and 20 is 2.2.2.3.3.5 = 360. The concept of LCM is applicable not only to numbers; for example, the LCM of two or several polynomials is the polynomial of least degree divisible by each of the given polynomials.

least common multiple

least common multiple

least common multiple

low′est com′mon mul′tiple

Least Common Multiple

least common multiple

Least Common Multiple

least common multiple

Synonyms for least common multiple

noun the smallest multiple that is exactly divisible by every member of a set of numbers

Synonyms

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