GRE Math : How to find the least common multiple
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Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Factors / Multiples
If a is the greatest common divisor of 64 and 14 and b is the least common multiple of 16 and 52 then a + b = ?
210
120
233
187
210
The greatest common divisor of 64 and 14 is 2, as found by the prime factorization of 64 and 14. The least common multiple of 16 and 52 is 208, which can be found by looking at the decimal when 52 is divided by 16. The remainder is 0.25, or 1/4 so the fourth multiple of 52 is 208, which is also divisible by 16.
Example Question #1 : Factors / Multiples
What is the least common multiple of 3, 4x, 5y, 6xy, and 10y?
30xy
60x2y2
30x2y2
25xy
60xy
60xy
Each of the numbers on the list must be able to "fit" (multiply evenly) into a larger number at the same time. I.e. the largest number (multiple) divided by any of the listed numbers will result in a whole number. For the coefficients, the maximum value is 10, and multiplying the highest two coefficients give us 60. Since 60 is divisible evenly by the lower values, we know that it is the least common multiple for the list. For the variables, both x and y will fit evenly into a theoretical number, "xy". We do not need an exponential version of this multiple as there are no exponents in the original list.
Example Question #61 : Arithmetic
What is the least common multiple of 45 and 60?
25
15
360
225
180
180
The least common multiple is the smallest number that is a multiple of all the numbers in the group. Let's list some multiples of the two numbers and find the smallest number in common to both.
multiples of 45: 45, 90, 135, 180, 225, 270, ...
multiples of 60: 60, 120, 180, 240, 300, 360, ...
The smallest number in common is 180.
Example Question #1 : Factors / Multiples
What is the least common multiple of 
None of the other answers
Factor each of our values into prime factors:
350 = 2 * 52 * 7
6270= 2 * 3 * 5 * 11 * 19
To find the least common multiple, we must choose the larger exponent for each of the prime factors involved. Therefore, we will select 2, 52, and 7 from 350 and 3, 11, and 19 from 6270.
Therefore, our least common multiple is 2 * 3 * 52 * 7 * 11 * 19 = 219,450.
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