SOLUTION: I don't understand how to figure out least common multiples when there are exponents involved? ex. 4c^3, c^2, and 3c^4 OK, so it's 4*c*c*c, c*c, and 3*c*c*c*c..... so, 4*3*

Algebra ->  Exponents -> SOLUTION: I don't understand how to figure out least common multiples when there are exponents involved? ex. 4c^3, c^2, and 3c^4 OK, so it's 4*c*c*c, c*c, and 3*c*c*c*c..... so, 4*3*      Log On


   

Question 33068This question is from textbook Saxon Algebra 1
: I don't understand how to figure out least common multiples when there are exponents involved?
ex. 4c^3, c^2, and 3c^4
OK, so it's 4*c*c*c, c*c, and 3*c*c*c*c.....
so, 4*3*c*c*c*c
The answer is 12c^4, but WHY do we use the greatest exponent....c^3 doesn't go into c^4.....??????
Rebecca This question is from textbook Saxon Algebra 1

Answer by longjonsilver(2297) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
4c%5E3 and c%5E2 and 3c%5E4. What is common to all three terms? The answer is c%5E2... this is your lowest common multiple

Written out fully, we have:
4*c*c*c
c*c
3*c*c*c*c

Looking at these, what appears in all of them is just c*c --> c%5E2.

I have no idea how you got 12c%5E4. This is NOT correct.
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OK, i just posted the reply then understood the question :-)
What you want is the lowest terms that all these 3 terms go into. OK....Then the answer IS 12c%5E4 :-)

Explanation:
12c%5E4 is 3*4*c*c*c*c

Now, 4c%5E3 can be seen in 3*4*c*c*c*c as shown by (4*c*c*c)(3*c)
c%5E2 can also be seen in 3*4*c*c*c*c as shown by (c*c)(3*4*c*c)
3c%5E4 can also be seen in 3*4*c*c*c*c as shown by (3*c*c*c*c)(4)

So to answer your confusion at the end... c%5E3 does go into c%5E4...c times.

This is IDENTICAL to asking does 2%5E3 go into 2%5E4? Well this is asking does 8 go into 16. Answer is YES....2 times.

This is because we have 2*2*2 and 2*2*2*2. 2%5E3 goes into 2%5E4 as (2*2*2)*(2)

Hope this helps?

jon.