Answer:
The least common multiple of the 1st 4 positive integers is 12
Step-by-step explanation:
- Lets explain the meaning of the least common multiple
* The multiples of a number are the numbers formed by multiplying the
number by another integers
- Ex: 2 , 4 , 6 are multiples of 2 because 2×1 = 2 , 2×2=4 ,
2×3 = 6
* Least common multiple (L.C.M) of a set of numbers is the
smallest number divisible by all of the numbers in the set
* To find the L.C.M of a set of numbers we look for the multiples of the
greatest number and check them with the other numbers if they are
divisible by the other numbers in the set, and choose the 1st one that
divisible by all the numbers in the set
- Ex: 24 is the L.C.M of 6 , 8 , 12 because
→ The multiples of 12 are 12 , 24 , 36 , ........ and 12 is the 1st number
divisible by the 3 numbers
- Lets solve the problem
* The first four positive integers are 1 , 2 , 3 , 4
→ The greatest one is 4
→ The multiples of 4 are ⇒ 4 , 8 , 12 , 16 , ........
→ 4 not divisible by 3 then it is not a common multiple of them
→ 8 not divisible by 3 hen it is not a common multiple of them
→ 12 is a common multiple of 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 because it is divisible by all of
them
The least common multiple of the 1st 4 positive integers is 12
