Last updated on May 26th, 2025
The Least common multiple (LCM) is the smallest number that is divisible by the numbers 21 and 28. The LCM can be found using the listing multiples method, the prime factorization and/or division methods. In our daily life, we use application of LCM for setting alarms in our clock or coordinating any orders.
The LCM of 21 and 28 is the smallest positive integer, a multiple of both numbers. By finding the LCM, we can simplify the arithmetic operations 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;
The LCM of 21 and 28 can be found using the following steps;
Step 1: Write down the multiples of each number:
Multiples of 21 = 21,42,63,84,105,126,147,168,…
Multiples of 28 = 28,56,84,112,140,168,196,…
Step 2: Ascertain the smallest multiple from the listed multiples of 21 and 28.
The LCM (The Least common multiple) of 21 and 28 is 84, i.e.,84 is divisible by 21 and 28 leaving no reminders.
The prime factors of each number are written, and then the highest power of the prime factors is multiplied to get the LCM.
Step 1: Find the prime factors of the numbers:
Prime factorization of 21 = 3×7
Prime factorization of 28 = 2×2×7
Step 2:Take the highest power of each prime factor:
Step 3: Multiply the ascertained factors to get the LCM:
LCM (21,28) = 84
The Division Method involves simultaneously 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. Continue dividing the numbers until the last row of the results is ‘1’ and bring down the numbers has not been divisible previously.
Step 3:The LCM of the numbers is the product of the prime numbers in the first column, i.e,
LCM (21,28) = 84
here some common mistake with their solutions are given:
LCM of 21 and b is 84. HCF of the same is 7. Find b.
The following relationship can be used to find the other number b.
LCM×HCF=Product of the two numbers
Substituting into the formula:
84×7 = 21×b
588 = 21b
b= 28
The above is how we find the other number when the LCM, HCF, and one of the numbers is given.
Find x such that both 21 and 28 are its factors.
The LCM of 21 and 28 = 84
the smallest number both 21 and 28 divide is the LCM of the numbers itself. All multiples of 84 are factored by 21 and 28.
Solve for the LCM of 21 and 28 using → LCM(a,b)=a×b/HCF(a,b)
HCF of 21 and 28 → 7
Applying the values in the formula;
LCM(a,b)=a×b/HCF(a,b)
LCM(21,28)=21×28/7
LCM(21,28) = 84
By applying the formula as above, we can ascertain the LCM of two numbers directly without using the prime factorization or other methods.
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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