What is the Least Common Multiple of 74 and 78?
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 74 and 78 is 2886.
LCM(74,78) = 2886
Least Common Multiple of 74 and 78 with GCF Formula
The formula of LCM is LCM(a,b) = ( a × b) / GCF(a,b).
We need to calculate greatest common factor 74 and 78, than apply into the LCM equation.
GCF(74,78) = 2
LCM(74,78) = ( 74 × 78) / 2
LCM(74,78) = 5772 / 2
LCM(74,78) = 2886
Least Common Multiple (LCM) of 74 and 78 with Primes
Least common multiple can be found by multiplying the highest exponent prime factors of 74 and 78. First we will calculate the prime factors of 74 and 78.
Prime Factorization of 74
Prime factors of 74 are 2, 37. Prime factorization of 74 in exponential form is:
74 = 21 × 371
Prime Factorization of 78
Prime factors of 78 are 2, 3, 13. Prime factorization of 78 in exponential form is:
78 = 21 × 31 × 131
Now multiplying the highest exponent prime factors to calculate the LCM of 74 and 78.
LCM(74,78) = 21 × 371 × 31 × 131
LCM(74,78) = 2886