LCM of 5 and 8
Understand the Problem
The question is asking us to find the least common multiple (LCM) of the numbers 5 and 8. To solve this, we will determine the smallest multiple that is divisible by both numbers.
Answer
40
Answer for screen readers
The final answer is 40
Steps to Solve
- Find the prime factorization of each number
Prime factors for 5: $5$ (since 5 is a prime number)
Prime factors for 8: $2 * 2 * 2 = 2^3$
- Identify the highest power of each prime number
The primes involved are 2 and 5. The highest powers are:
- 2: $2^3$
- 5: $5^1$
- Calculate the LCM by multiplying the highest powers of all prime factors
Multiply the highest powers of all primes: $$\text{LCM} = 2^3 * 5^1 = 8 * 5 = 40$$
The final answer is 40
More Information
The LCM of two numbers is useful in problems involving adding, subtracting, or comparing fractions with different denominators.
Tips
A common mistake is not using the highest powers of prime numbers when calculating the LCM. Always ensure to take the highest power of each prime factor identified in the numbers.
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