What is the least common multiple of 6 and 8?

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Multiple Choice

What is the least common multiple of 6 and 8?

Explanation:
We’re looking for the smallest number that both 6 and 8 divide into evenly. A quick way is to use prime factorization: 6 = 2 × 3, 8 = 2^3. For the LCM, take each prime to the highest power it appears in either factorization: 2^3 and 3. Multiply them to get 8 × 3 = 24. This number is divisible by both 6 (24 ÷ 6 = 4) and 8 (24 ÷ 8 = 3), and there’s no smaller number with that property. For reference, 12 is a multiple of 6 but not of 8, 6 isn’t a multiple of 8, and 48 is a multiple of both but not the smallest since 24 already satisfies the condition. Another way to see it is using the formula LCM(a,b) = (a × b) / gcd(a,b): (6 × 8) / gcd(6,8) = 48 / 2 = 24.

We’re looking for the smallest number that both 6 and 8 divide into evenly. A quick way is to use prime factorization: 6 = 2 × 3, 8 = 2^3. For the LCM, take each prime to the highest power it appears in either factorization: 2^3 and 3. Multiply them to get 8 × 3 = 24. This number is divisible by both 6 (24 ÷ 6 = 4) and 8 (24 ÷ 8 = 3), and there’s no smaller number with that property.

For reference, 12 is a multiple of 6 but not of 8, 6 isn’t a multiple of 8, and 48 is a multiple of both but not the smallest since 24 already satisfies the condition. Another way to see it is using the formula LCM(a,b) = (a × b) / gcd(a,b): (6 × 8) / gcd(6,8) = 48 / 2 = 24.

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