What is the Least Common Multiple of 20 and 160?

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 20 and 160 with GCF Formula

The formula of LCM is LCM(a,b) = ( a × b) / GCF(a,b).
We need to calculate greatest common factor 20 and 160, than apply into the LCM equation.

GCF(20,160) = 20
LCM(20,160) = ( 20 × 160) / 20
LCM(20,160) = 3200 / 20
LCM(20,160) = 160

Least Common Multiple (LCM) of 20 and 160 with Primes

Least common multiple can be found by multiplying the highest exponent prime factors of 20 and 160. First we will calculate the prime factors of 20 and 160.

Prime Factorization of 20

Prime Factorization of 160

Now multiplying the highest exponent prime factors to calculate the LCM of 20 and 160.

LCM(20,160) = 2⁵ × 5¹
LCM(20,160) = 160