least common multiple

Definitions

The smallest positive integer which is divisible by (equivalently, is an integer multiple of) each of a specified finite set of integers.

Equivalents

Examples

“120 is the least common multiple of 60, 8 and 15.”

“The LEAST COMMON MULTIPLE is the smallest number⟳, which can be measured by each of two, or more divisors. […] Since 0 is the least multiple of every number⟳, it must be the least common multiple of any, or of all numbers. It is, however, excluded by common consent in finding the least common multiples of numbers, because as such, 0 has no practical value.”

“The least common multiple (LCM) is the smallest common multiple of two or more factors.[…]The least common multiple is used to determine⟳ the appropriate denominator for adding unlike fractions. In adding unlike fractions, it is important to find⟳ the lowest common denominator of the fractions. This is exactly the same thing as finding the least common multiple of the denominators.”

“It is sometimes necessary to determine⟳ the smallest common nonzero multiple of two or more whole numbers. We call⟳ this nonzero multiple the least common multiple. In our work⟳ with fractions, there will be problems where it will be necessary to find⟳ the least common multiple of some numbers, usually the denominators of fractions.”

CEFR level