LCM of 2 and 5

Multiplying gives you the product of the numbers, in this case,10. LCM, however, is the smallest common multiple that can be ascertained following the listing multiples method, prime factorization, or the division method.

The LCM can be found using the formula, and as explained with the example given below. 

LCM (a, b)= a×b/HCF(a, b)

For 2 and 5, HCF(2,5)= 1

So, LCM(2,5)=2×5/1 = 1

The LCM of numbers 2 and 5 is unique as it represents the smallest number that both the numbers can divide into with no reminders left behind. To further elaborate;

 Find the prime factors of the numbers:

  — Prime factorization of 2 = 2

  — Prime factorization of 5 = 5

•  Take the highest powers of each prime factor:

  — Highest power of 2 = 2

  — Highest power of 5 = 5

•  Multiply the highest powers to get the LCM:

  LCM(2, 5) = 2 × 5 = 10.

When you divide the LCM with the respective digits; the reminder is ‘0’

For algebraic expressions, find the LCM by factoring each expression and then choosing the highest power of each variable. For example, Find the LCM of x2y and xy3

Factor each term as follows

x²y = x²  × y —---> highest power =  x²  

xy³ = x ×  y³  —---> highest power =   y³ 

Multiply the highest powers —---> x²y³ 

  LCM(x²y, xy³) = x²y³

To derive the LCM of two decimal numbers, follow the below steps;

First, convert the given decimals to whole numbers. In the given case, 2.0 and 5.0 are already whole. However, if there is a case where the decimal is, say, 4.5, multiply it by 10 to convert them to a whole number, which will be 45. After converting them into whole numbers, ascertain the LCM of the digits using any of the methods, i.e., the listing multiples method, the division method or the prime factorization method.  The LCM (2,5)= 10.