Question #99831

2 Answers
Dec 19, 2017

The LCM is 8080

Explanation:

Factor each number:

16 = 2*2*2*2 = 2^416=2222=24

20 = 2*2*5=2^2*520=225=225

Every multiple of 1616 has factors that include 2^424

Every multiple of 2020 has factors that include 2^2*5225.

The Least Common Multiple must include factors of 2^424, 2^222 and 55 and no extra factors (otherwise it wouldn't be "least")

The least number that includes these is 2^4*5 = 80245=80

Dec 19, 2017

LCM = 2xx2xx2xx2xx5 = 80LCM=2×2×2×2×5=80

Explanation:

The LCM must be divisible by 16 and 2016and20

Write each number as the product of its prime factors:

" "16 =2xx2xx2xx2 16=2×2×2×2
" "ul(20= 2xx2color(white)(xxxxxx)xx5)
LCM = 2xx2xx2xx2xx5 = 80

80 now contains all the factors of 16 and 20 but without any duplicates,