Question 33068
{{{4c^3}}} and {{{c^2}}} and {{{3c^4}}}. What is common to all three terms? The answer is {{{c^2}}}... 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^2}}}.


I have no idea how you got {{{12c^4}}}. 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^4}}} :-)


Explanation:
{{{12c^4}}} is 3*4*c*c*c*c


Now, {{{4c^3}}} can be seen in 3*4*c*c*c*c as shown by (4*c*c*c)(3*c)
{{{c^2}}} can also be seen in 3*4*c*c*c*c as shown by (c*c)(3*4*c*c)
{{{3c^4}}} 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^3}}} does go into {{{c^4}}}...c times.


This is IDENTICAL to asking does {{{2^3}}} go into {{{2^4}}}? 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. {{{2^3}}} goes into {{{2^4}}} as (2*2*2)*(2)


Hope this helps?


jon.