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Finding the LCM by Listing Multiples

The listing multiples method is a straightforward way to find the least common multiple of two numbers without using prime factorizations. The procedure has three steps:

  1. List several multiples of each number — write out the first several products of each number with the counting numbers (e.g., for 44: 4,8,12,16,20,4, 8, 12, 16, 20, \dots; for 66: 6,12,18,24,6, 12, 18, 24, \dots).
  2. Identify the smallest number that appears in both lists — scan the two lists for common entries and select the least one.
  3. That number is the LCM.

This approach works well when the numbers are small enough that their multiples can be listed quickly. For larger numbers or cases where common multiples are not immediately obvious, the prime factors method is often more efficient.

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Updated 2026-04-21

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