What is the Least Common Multiple of 1981 and 1988?

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 1981 and 1988 with GCF Formula

The formula of LCM is LCM(a,b) = ( a × b) / GCF(a,b).
We need to calculate greatest common factor 1981 and 1988, than apply into the LCM equation.

GCF(1981,1988) = 7
LCM(1981,1988) = ( 1981 × 1988) / 7
LCM(1981,1988) = 3938228 / 7
LCM(1981,1988) = 562604

Least Common Multiple (LCM) of 1981 and 1988 with Primes

Least common multiple can be found by multiplying the highest exponent prime factors of 1981 and 1988. First we will calculate the prime factors of 1981 and 1988.

Prime Factorization of 1981

Prime Factorization of 1988

Now multiplying the highest exponent prime factors to calculate the LCM of 1981 and 1988.

LCM(1981,1988) = 7¹ × 283¹ × 2² × 71¹
LCM(1981,1988) = 562604