SOLUTION: Can someone please help with this question? Thanks in advance! Three motorcyclists ride around a circular race course starting at the same place and the same time. The first

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Question 331718: Can someone please help with this question? Thanks in advance!
Three motorcyclists ride around a circular race course
starting at the same place and the same time. The first
passes the starting point every 12 min, the second every
18 min, and the third every 16 min. After how many
minutes will all three pass the starting point again at the
same time? Explain your reasoning
Answer by galactus(183) (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
This is just a matter of finding the LCM of 12,16, and 18
That is, the smallest number that all three numbers will divide into.
How about 144?.
144/16=9
144/12=12
144/18=8
They all pass the starting point at the same time in 144 minutes.
How to find the LCM of three numbers?:
Factor each number:

Now, take the largest power of each factor that appears in all three.
The highest two power is 2^4 and the largest 3 power is 3^2
Multiply them and we get (2^4)(3^2)=16*9=144.