Find the least common multiple.

Question

4 and 14

Answer 1

To find the least common multiple (LCM) of 4 and 14, we can use the prime factorization method.

1. Find the prime factorization of each number:

   • The prime factorization of 4 is \( 2^2 \).
   • The prime factorization of 14 is \( 2^1 \times 7^1 \).

2. Identify the highest power of each prime factor:

   • For the prime number 2, the highest power is \( 2^2 \).
   • For the prime number 7, the highest power is \( 7^1 \).

3. Multiply these highest powers together: \[ LCM = 2^2 \times 7^1 = 4 \times 7 = 28 \]

Thus, the least common multiple of 4 and 14 is 28.