120 and 180 LCM
LCM of 120 and 180 is equal to 360. The comprehensive work provides more insight of how to find what is the lcm of 120 and 180 by using prime factors and special division methods, and the example use case of mathematics and real world problems.
what is the lcm of 120 and 180?
lcm (120 180) = (?)
120 => 2 x 2 x 2 x 3 x 5
180 => 2 x 2 x 3 x 3 x 5
= 2 x 2 x 3 x 5 x 2 x 3
= 360
lcm (120 and 180) = 360
360 is the lcm of 120 and 180.
where,
120 is a positive integer,
180 is a positive integer,
360 is the lcm of 120 and 180,
{2 x 2 x 3 x 5} in {2 x 2 x 2 x 3 x 5, 2 x 2 x 3 x 3 x 5} are the common factors of 120 and 180,
{2 x 3} in {2 x 2 x 2 x 3 x 5, 2 x 2 x 3 x 3 x 5} are the uncommon factors of 120 and 180.
Use in Mathematics: LCM of 120 and 180
The below are some of the mathematical applications where lcm of 120 and 180 can be used:
- to find the least number which is exactly divisible by 120 and 180.
- to find the common denominator for two fractions having 120 and 180 as denominators in the unlike fractions addition or subtraction.
In the context of lcm real world problems, the lcm of 120 and 180 helps to find the exact time when two similar and recurring events 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 the bells A and B all toll together, if bell A tolls at 120 seconds and bell B tolls at 180 seconds repeatedly. The answer is that all bells A and B toll together at 360 seconds for the first time, at 720 seconds for the second time, at 1080 seconds for the third time and so on.
Important Notes: 120 and 180 lcm
The below are the important notes to be remembered while solving the lcm of 120 and 180:
- The common prime factors and the remaining prime factors of 120 and 180 should be multiplied to find the least common multiple of 120 and 180, when solving lcm by using prime factors method.
- The results of lcm of 120 and 180, and the lcm of 180 and 120 are identical, it means the order of given numbers in the lcm calculation doesn't affect the results.
How-to: What is the LCM of 120 and 180?
Solved example using prime factors method:
What is the LCM of 120 and 180?
step 1 Address the input parameters, values and observe what to be found:
Input parameters and values:
A = 120
B = 180
What to be found:
find the lcm of 120 and 180
step 2 Find the prime factors of 120 and 180:
Prime factors of 120 = 2 x 2 x 2 x 3 x 5
Prime factors of 180 = 2 x 2 x 3 x 3 x 5
step 3 Identify the repeated and non-repeated prime factors of 120 and 180:
{2, 2, 3, 5} are the most repeated factors and {2 x 3} are the non-repeated factors of 120 and 180.
step 4 Find the product of repeated and non-repeated prime factors of 120 and 180:
= 2 x 2 x 3 x 5 x 2 x 3
= 360
lcm(120 and 180) = 360
Hence,
lcm of 120 and 180 is 360
This special division method is the easiest way to understand the entire calculation of what is the lcm of 120 and 180.
step 1 Address the input parameters, values and observe what to be found:
Input parameters and values:
Integers: 120 and 180
What to be found:
lcm (120, 180) = ?
step 2 Arrange the given integers in the horizontal form with space or comma separated format:
120 and 180
step 3 Choose the divisor which divides each or most of the given integers (120 and 180), 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 120 and 180 is not divisible by the selected divisor; repeat the same process until all the integers are brought to 1 as like below:
| 2 | 120 | 180 |
| 2 | 60 | 90 |
| 2 | 30 | 45 |
| 3 | 15 | 45 |
| 3 | 5 | 15 |
| 5 | 5 | 5 |
| 1 | 1 |
step 4 Multiply the divisors to find the lcm of 120 and 180:
= 2 x 2 x 2 x 3 x 3 x 5
= 360
LCM(120, 180) = 360
The least common multiple for two numbers 120 and 180 is 360
