LCM: ladder method
LCM
Passion4studying.blogspot.com
In this article, we will be discussing what LCMs are and what the ladder method is.
LCM
In order to know how to add and subtract fractions, we need to know what LCM means. LCM stands for "least common multiple", and it's the smallest multiple two numbers share. For example, the LCM of 12 and 24 is 24, since 24 is a multiple of both numbers, and it's the smallest out of all the common multiples both numbers share, such as 48 and 72. Now, let's discuss the ladder method, which is used to find LCM
The ladder
To use the ladder method, we must first make an L shape and put our numbers in the L (make sure there's space between them), like this:
Then, we must put a factor of both of these numbers on the left of the L, as shown below:
Next, we will divide our numbers by the factor they both share, and put the result below the L., like so:
And then we continue on and on until we can't divide any further, like above. When we can't anymore, we will take all the numbers around the L and multiply them to each other:
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