Question

What is the least common multiple of 4 and 12?

Answer 1

To find the least common multiple (LCM) of 4 and 12, we need to find the smallest number that is divisible by both 4 and 12.

First, we can find the prime factorization of each number:

- 4 = 2 x 2
- 12 = 2 x 2 x 3

Next, we need to find the highest power of each prime factor that appears in either factorization. In this case, the prime factors are 2 and 3, and the highest power of 2 is 2^2 = 4, and the highest power of 3 is 3^1 = 3.

Finally, we multiply these highest powers together to get the LCM:

LCM(4, 12) = 2^2 x 3^1 = 12

Therefore, the LCM of 4 and 12 is 12.

Answer 2

12

Step-by-step explanation:

What is a least common multiple?

The least common multiple (LCM) of two or more numbers is the smallest positive integer that is divisible by all the numbers without a remainder. In other words, it is the smallest number that all the numbers divide into evenly.

In our case, the LCM of 4 and 12 is 12 because 12 is the smallest number that both 4 and 12 divide into evenly.

• 12 ÷ 4 = 3 and 12 ÷ 12 = 1

Therefore 12 is the correct answer.