Last updated on May 26th, 2025
The Least common multiple (LCM) is the smallest number that is divisible by the numbers 20 and 25. LCM helps to solve problems with fractions and scenarios like setting an alarm or planning to align events.
The LCM of 20 and 25 is the smallest positive integer, a multiple of both numbers. By finding the LCM, we can simplify the arithmetic operations like addition and subtraction with fractions to equate the denominators.
There are various methods to find the LCM, Listing method, prime factorization method and division method are explained below;
To ascertain the LCM, list the multiples of the integers until a common multiple is found.
Step 1: Writedown the multiples of each number:
Multiples of 20 = 20,40,60,80,100,…
Multiples of 25 = 25,50,75,100,…
Step 2: Ascertain the smallest multiple from the listed multiples of 20 and 25.
The LCM (Least common multiple) of 20 and 25 is 100. i.e.,100 is divisible by 20 and 25 with no reminder.
This method involves finding the prime factors of each number and then multiplying the highest power of the prime factors to get the LCM.
Step 1: Find the prime factors of the numbers:
Prime factorization of 20 = 2×2×5
Prime factorization of 25 = 5×5
Step 2:Take the highest power of each prime factor and multiply the ascertained factors to get the LCM:
LCM (20,25) = 100
The Division Method involves dividing the numbers by their prime factors and multiplying the divisors to get the LCM.
Step 1: Write down the numbers in a row;
Step 2:Divide the row of numbers by a prime number that is evenly divisible into at least one of the given numbers.
Step 3:Continue dividing the numbers until the last row of the results is ‘1’ and bring down the numbers not divisible by the previously chosen prime number.
Step 4The LCM of the numbers is the product of the prime numbers in the first column, i.e.,
LCM (20,25) = 100
Listed below are a few commonly made mistakes while attempting to ascertain the LCM of 20 and 25, make a note while practicing.
LCM (15,20,25) = x. Find the smallest positive integer (n), where n×x is a multiple of 60.
LCM (15,20,25) = x
We ascertained the LCM of 15,20,25 from the previous calculations.
LCM (15,20,25) = 300
n is;
n×300 is a multiple of 60
Te same can be rearranged as;
n×300 = k×60, for some integer k
Divide both the sides 60;
n×5 = k
n×5 = k implies that n is to be a multiple of 12, 300/60 = 5 and n to be a multiple of 1/5.
Smallest n = 12.
n is 12, as elaborated above. It satisfies the condition laid the smallest positive integer (n), where n×x is a multiple of 60.
LCM of 20 and x is 100. Find x.
LCM(20,x) = 100
LCM(a,b)=a×b/HCF(a,b)
Let x be;
LCM(20,x) = 20×x/HCF(20,x) = 100
Let’s analyze x as;
Prime factorization of 20 = 5×2×2
Prime factorization of 100 = 5×5×2×2
For the LCM to be 100, x should contribute 22 and 52 to the LCM;
x could be 5, to suffice for 52 in the prime factorization.
Let us now verify the above assumption;
LCM(20,25) =100
After the above verification, we can say that the missing number is 25.
What is the smallest number that is divisible by both 20 and 25?
The LCM of 20 and 25 as obtained earlier is 100.
The LCM is the smallest number divisible by the given numbers. In the case of 20 and 25, the smallest number that is divisible by them both is 100.
Hiralee Lalitkumar Makwana has almost two years of teaching experience. She is a number ninja as she loves numbers. Her interest in numbers can be seen in the way she cracks math puzzles and hidden patterns.
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