Given that the
science department buys the equipment shown in the table below.
Item Time Bought
Microscopes every 5 years
Safety goggles every 4 years
Test tubes every 2 years
Given that they bought
all three items this year. The number of years it will take for them to buy all
three items again in the same year is given by the LCM of 5, 4, and 2.
5 = 1 x 5
4 = 1 x 2 x 2
2 = 1 x 2
LCM = 1 x 2 x 2 x 5 = 20.
Therefore, they will buy all three items again in 20 years.
