What is the Least Common Multiple of 5 and 20?
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 (LCM) of 5 and 20 is 20.
LCM(5,20) = 20
Least Common Multiple of 5 and 20 with GCF Formula
The formula of LCM is LCM(a,b) = ( a × b) / GCF(a,b).
We need to calculate greatest common factor 5 and 20, than apply into the LCM equation.
GCF(5,20) = 5
LCM(5,20) = ( 5 × 20) / 5
LCM(5,20) = 100 / 5
LCM(5,20) = 20
Least Common Multiple (LCM) of 5 and 20 with Primes
Least common multiple can be found by multiplying the highest exponent prime factors of 5 and 20. First we will calculate the prime factors of 5 and 20.
Prime Factorization of 5
Prime factors of 5 are 5. Prime factorization of 5 in exponential form is:
5 = 51
Prime Factorization of 20
Prime factors of 20 are 2, 5. Prime factorization of 20 in exponential form is:
20 = 22 × 51
Now multiplying the highest exponent prime factors to calculate the LCM of 5 and 20.
LCM(5,20) = 51 × 22
LCM(5,20) = 20