LCM

Returns the least common multiple of one or more integers.

Syntax:

LCM(integer1, integer2, ... integer30)

integer1 to integer30 are up to 30 integers or ranges of integers whose least common multiple is to be calculated.

The least common multiple (or lowest common multiple) is the smallest positive integer that is a multiple of all the given numbers.

Example:

LCM(4; 6)

returns 12, which is the smallest positive integer that is a multiple of 4 (12=4*3) and 6 (12=6*2).

LCM(B1:C1)

where B1 and C1 contain 6 and 3 respectively, returns 6.

Application:

An application of the Least Common Multiple (LCM) function is scheduling events that repeat at different intervals.

Imagine a community center has two different volunteer activities:

Activity A: A weekly food bank cleanup that happens every 7 days.
Activity B: A community garden planting session that happens every 14 days.

Both activities started on the same day. The community center wants to find out when both activities will happen on the same day again so they can plan a combined volunteer appreciation event.

We can use the LCM to find the answer. We need to find the LCM of 7 and 14.

Step 1: List the multiples of each number.

	Multiples of 7	Multiples of 14
	A	B
1	7	14
2	14	28
3	21	42
4	28	56
5	35	70
6	42	84

Step 2: Find the first common multiple from the list.

Looking at the table, the first number that appears in both lists is 14.

Step 3: Use the LCM function.

Using the LCM function, we can confirm our result:

LCM(7,14)=14

Conclusion:

Both the food bank cleanup and the community garden planting session will happen on the same day again in 14 days. The community center can schedule their combined volunteer appreciation event on that day.

Result for LCM(7, 14):

14