What is the Least Common Multiple of 5 and 10?
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 (LCM) of 5 and 10 is 10.
LCM(5,10) = 10
Least Common Multiple of 5 and 10 with GCF Formula
The formula of LCM is LCM(a,b) = ( a × b) / GCF(a,b).
We need to calculate greatest common factor 5 and 10, than apply into the LCM equation.
GCF(5,10) = 5
LCM(5,10) = ( 5 × 10) / 5
LCM(5,10) = 50 / 5
LCM(5,10) = 10
Least Common Multiple (LCM) of 5 and 10 with Primes
Least common multiple can be found by multiplying the highest exponent prime factors of 5 and 10. First we will calculate the prime factors of 5 and 10.
Prime Factorization of 5
Prime factors of 5 are 5. Prime factorization of 5 in exponential form is:
5 = 51
Prime Factorization of 10
Prime factors of 10 are 2, 5. Prime factorization of 10 in exponential form is:
10 = 21 × 51
Now multiplying the highest exponent prime factors to calculate the LCM of 5 and 10.
LCM(5,10) = 51 × 21
LCM(5,10) = 10