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| Math Central | Quandaries & Queries |
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Question from Kamaldeep, a student: Find the first 2 common multiples of 36 and 48. |
Kamaldeep,
Write the prime factor decompositions of 36 and 48.
36 = 22 × 32
48 = 24 ×3
Hence any common multiple of 36 and 48 must have 3 as a factor twice and 2 as a factor four times. That is any common multiple of 36 and 48 must itself have factors of 32 and 24. Therefore the smallest common factor of 36 and 48 is 24 × 32.
What is the next smallest common multiple?
Penny
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