Find the least common multiple of 8 and 12. Type your answer in the box below

1 answer

To find the least common multiple (LCM) of 8 and 12, we can follow a few steps:

  1. Prime Factorization:

    • The prime factorization of 8 is \(2^3\).
    • The prime factorization of 12 is \(2^2 \times 3^1\).
  2. Identify the Highest Powers:

    • For the prime number 2, the highest power in both factorizations is \(2^3\).
    • For the prime number 3, the highest power is \(3^1\).
  3. Multiply the Highest Powers Together:

    • LCM = \(2^3 \times 3^1 = 8 \times 3 = 24\).

Thus, the least common multiple of 8 and 12 is 24.