12, 15 and 18 LCM
LCM of 12, 15 and 18 is equal to 180. The comprehensive work provides more insight of how to find what is the lcm of 12, 15 and 18 by using prime factors and special division methods, and the example use case of mathematics and real world problems.
what is the lcm of 12, 15 and 18?
lcm (12 15 18) = (?)
12 => 2 x 2 x 3
15 => 3 x 5
18 => 2 x 3 x 3
= 2 x 3 x 2 x 5 x 3
= 180
lcm (12, 15 and 18) = 180
180 is the lcm of 12, 15 and 18.
where,
12 is a positive integer,
15 is a positive integer,
180 is the lcm of 12, 15 and 18,
{2, 3} in {2 x 2 x 3, 3 x 5, 2 x 3 x 3} are the most repeated factors of 12, 15 and 18,
{2, 5, 3} in {2 x 2 x 3, 3 x 5, 2 x 3 x 3} are the the other remaining factors of 12, 15 and 18.
Use in Mathematics: LCM of 12, 15 and 18
The below are some of the mathematical applications where lcm of 12, 15 and 18 can be used:
- to find the least number which is exactly divisible by 12, 15 and 18.
- to find the common denominators for the fractions having 12, 15 and 18 as denominators in the unlike fractions addition or subtraction.
In the context of lcm real world problems, the lcm of 12, 15 and 18 helps to find the exact time when three similar and recurring with different time schedule happens together at the same time. For example, the real world problems involve lcm in situations to find at what time all the bells A, B and C toll together, if bell A tolls at 12 seconds, B tolls at 15 seconds and C tolls at 18 seconds repeatedly. The answer is that all bells A, B and C toll together at 180 seconds for the first time, at 360 seconds for the second time, at 540 seconds for the third time and so on.
Important Notes: 12, 15 and 18 lcm
The below are the important notes to be remembered while solving the lcm of 12, 15 and 18:
- The repeated and non-repeated prime factors of 12, 15 and 18 should be multiplied to find the least common multiple of 12, 15 and 18, when solving lcm by using prime factors method.
- The results of lcm of 12, 15 and 18 is identical even if we change the order of given numbers in the lcm calculation, it means the order of given numbers in the lcm calculation doesn't affect the results.
How-to: What is the LCM of 12, 15 and 18?
The below solved example with step by step work shows how to find what is the lcm of 12, 15 and 18 by using either prime factors method and special division method.
Solved example using prime factors method:
What is the LCM of 12, 15 and 18?
step 1
Address the input parameters, values and observe what to be found:
Input parameters and values:
A = 12
B = 15
C = 18
What to be found:
find the lcm of 12, 15 and 18
step 2 Find the prime factors of 12, 15 and 18:
Prime factors of 12 = 2 x 2 x 3
Prime factors of 15 = 3 x 5
Prime factors of 18 = 2 x 3 x 3
step 3 Identify the repeated and non-repeated prime factors of 12, 15 and 18:
{2, 3} are the most repeated factors and {2, 5, 3} are the non-repeated factors of 12, 15 and 18.
step 4 Find the product of repeated and non-repeated prime factors of 12, 15 and 18:
= 2 x 3 x 2 x 5 x 3
= 180
lcm(20 and 30) = 180
Hence,
lcm of 12, 15 and 18 is 180
This special division method is the easiest way to understand the entire calculation of what is the lcm of 12, 15 and 18.
step 1 Address the input parameters, values and observe what to be found:
Input parameters and values:
Integers: 12, 15 and 18
What to be found:
lcm (12, 15, 18) = ?
step 2 Arrange the given integers in the horizontal form with space or comma separated format:
12, 15 and 18
step 3 Choose the divisor which divides each or most of the given integers (12, 15 and 18), divide each integers separately and write down the quotient in the next line right under the respective integers. Bring down the integer to the next line if any integer in 12, 15 and 18 is not divisible by the selected divisor; repeat the same process until all the integers are brought to 1 as like below:
| 2 | 12 | 15 | 18 |
| 2 | 6 | 15 | 9 |
| 3 | 3 | 15 | 9 |
| 3 | 1 | 5 | 3 |
| 5 | 1 | 5 | 1 |
| 1 | 1 | 1 |
step 4 Multiply the divisors to find the lcm of 12, 15 and 18:
= 2 x 2 x 3 x 3 x 5
= 180
LCM(12, 15, 18) = 180
The least common multiple for three numbers 12, 15 and 18 is 180