What is the Least Common Multiple of 186 and 196?

Least common multiple or lowest common denominator (lcd) can be calculated in two way; with the LCM formula calculation of greatest common factor (GCF), or multiplying the prime factors with the highest exponent factor.

Least Common Multiple of 186 and 196 with GCF Formula

The formula of LCM is LCM(a,b) = ( a × b) / GCF(a,b).
We need to calculate greatest common factor 186 and 196, than apply into the LCM equation.

GCF(186,196) = 2
LCM(186,196) = ( 186 × 196) / 2
LCM(186,196) = 36456 / 2
LCM(186,196) = 18228

Least Common Multiple (LCM) of 186 and 196 with Primes

Least common multiple can be found by multiplying the highest exponent prime factors of 186 and 196. First we will calculate the prime factors of 186 and 196.

Prime Factorization of 186

Prime Factorization of 196

Now multiplying the highest exponent prime factors to calculate the LCM of 186 and 196.

LCM(186,196) = 2² × 3¹ × 31¹ × 7²
LCM(186,196) = 18228