What is the Least Common Multiple of 960 and 972?

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 960 and 972 with GCF Formula

The formula of LCM is LCM(a,b) = ( a × b) / GCF(a,b).
We need to calculate greatest common factor 960 and 972, than apply into the LCM equation.

GCF(960,972) = 12
LCM(960,972) = ( 960 × 972) / 12
LCM(960,972) = 933120 / 12
LCM(960,972) = 77760

Least Common Multiple (LCM) of 960 and 972 with Primes

Least common multiple can be found by multiplying the highest exponent prime factors of 960 and 972. First we will calculate the prime factors of 960 and 972.

Prime Factorization of 960

Prime Factorization of 972

Now multiplying the highest exponent prime factors to calculate the LCM of 960 and 972.

LCM(960,972) = 2⁶ × 3⁵ × 5¹
LCM(960,972) = 77760