To find the least common multiple (LCM) of 3 and 12, we can list the multiples of each number:
- Multiples of 3: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, ...
- Multiples of 12: 12, 24, 36, ...
The smallest common multiple in these lists is 12.
Therefore, the LCM of 3 and 12 is 12.
You can also find the LCM using the formula:
\[ \text{LCM}(a, b) = \frac{|a \times b|}{\text{GCD}(a, b)} \]
For 3 and 12:
- GCD(3, 12) = 3
So,
\[ \text{LCM}(3, 12) = \frac{|3 \times 12|}{3} = \frac{36}{3} = 12 \]
Again, the LCM is 12.