SOLUTION: FIND THE LCM (5+2P), (25-4P 2SQUARED), AND (5-2P) I AM HAVING TROUBLE FINDING THE LCM FOR THIS QUESTION. CAN YOU PLEASE WALK ME THROUGH THE STEPS TO SOLVE. THANKS, JESSICA

Algebra ->  Equations -> SOLUTION: FIND THE LCM (5+2P), (25-4P 2SQUARED), AND (5-2P) I AM HAVING TROUBLE FINDING THE LCM FOR THIS QUESTION. CAN YOU PLEASE WALK ME THROUGH THE STEPS TO SOLVE. THANKS, JESSICA      Log On


   

Question 134211: FIND THE LCM (5+2P), (25-4P 2SQUARED), AND (5-2P)
I AM HAVING TROUBLE FINDING THE LCM FOR THIS QUESTION. CAN YOU PLEASE WALK ME THROUGH THE STEPS TO SOLVE.
THANKS,
JESSICA B.
Answer by ptaylor(2198) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Find the LCM of the three expressions:
Well, we know theat the LCM is the smallest number (or expression) that is equally divisible by the other numbers (or expressions):
Example: Find the LCM of 3, 8 and 4 Well, we know it's not 8--3 will not divide into 8; we know it's not 16--3 will not divide into 16. Let's try 24 BINGO!!!!!!!
Let's look at your problem:
%285%2B2P%29, %2825-4P%5E2%29 and %285-2P%29
It's noteworthy that %2825-4P%5E2%29 can be factored. The factors are:
%285-2P%29%285%2B2P%29 Now this tells us that the LCM is 25-4P%5E2 because it's the smallest expression that each of the expressions will divide equally into
5%2B2P goes into 25-4P%5E2 5-2P times
5-2P goes into 25-4P%5E2 5%2B2P times
and 25-4P%5E2 goes into 25-4P%5E2 1 time
Hope this helps---ptaylor