least common multiple

noun

The smallest positive integer which is divisible by (equivalently, is an integer multiple of) each of a specified finite set of integers.

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lowest common multiplesmallest common multiplelcm
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Meanings

nounleast common multiple (plural least common multiples)

plural least common multiples

  1. mathematicsThe smallest positive integer which is divisible by (equivalently, is an integer multiple of) each of a specified finite set of integers.

    120 is the least common multiple of 60, 8 and 15.

    3 more examples

    The LEAST COMMON MULTIPLE is the smallest number, which can be measured by each of two, or more divisors. […] Since 0 is the least multiple of every number, it must be the least common multiple of any, or of all numbers. It is, however, excluded by common consent in finding the least common multiples of numbers, because as such, 0 has no practical value.

    1859, David Henry Cruttenden, The Objective Or Synthetic Arithmetic, J. M. Bradstreet & Son, page 261

    The least common multiple (LCM) is the smallest common multiple of two or more factors.[…]The least common multiple is used to determine the appropriate denominator for adding unlike fractions. In adding unlike fractions, it is important to find the lowest common denominator of the fractions. This is exactly the same thing as finding the least common multiple of the denominators.

    2000, Robert W. Smith, Math Challenges, Grades 4-6, Teacher Created Resources, page 75

    It is sometimes necessary to determine the smallest common nonzero multiple of two or more whole numbers. We call this nonzero multiple the least common multiple. In our work with fractions, there will be problems where it will be necessary to find the least common multiple of some numbers, usually the denominators of fractions.

    2007, Jerome Kaufmann, Karen Schwitters, Algebra for College Students, 8th edition, Thomson Learning, page 820

    Synonyms: lowest common multiple, smallest common multiple, lcm

Synonyms & antonyms

nounThe smallest positive integer which is divisible by (equivalently, is an integer multiple of) each of a specified finite set of integers.

Similar
lowest common multiplesmallest common multiplelcm

More synonyms by meaning

nounthe smallest multiple that is exactly divisible by every member of a set of numbers

Similar
lowest common multiplelcm
Broader
multiple
Also see
lowest common multiplesmallest common multiple

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Translations

Catalan mínim comú múltiple
  • mínim comú múltiple(number theory)
Chinese Mandarin 最小公倍數 /最小公倍数
  • 最小公倍數 /最小公倍数 (zuìxiǎo gōngbèishù)(number theory)
Danish mindste fælles multiplum
  • mindste fælles multiplum(number theory)
Dutch kleinste gemene veelvoud
  • kleinste gemene veelvoud(number theory)
Estonian vähim ühiskordne
  • vähim ühiskordne(number theory)
Finnish pienin yhteinen jaettava, pienin yhteinen monikerta
  • pienin yhteinen jaettava(number theory)
  • pienin yhteinen monikerta(number theory)
French plus petit commun multiple, plus petit multiple commun
  • plus petit commun multiple(number theory)
  • plus petit multiple commun(number theory)
German kleinstes gemeinsames Vielfaches
  • kleinstes gemeinsames Vielfaches(number theory)
Greek ελάχιστο κοινό πολλαπλάσιο
  • ελάχιστο κοινό πολλαπλάσιο (eláchisto koinó pollaplásio)(number theory)
Hungarian legkisebb közös többszörös
  • legkisebb közös többszörös(number theory)
Indonesian kelipatan persekutuan terkecil
  • kelipatan persekutuan terkecil(number theory)
Italian minimo comune multiplo
  • minimo comune multiplo(number theory)
Japanese 最小公倍数
  • 最小公倍数 (saishō kōbaisū)(number theory)
Korean 최소공배수
  • 최소공배수 (choesogongbaesu)(number theory)
Malay gandaan sepunya terkecil
  • gandaan sepunya terkecil(number theory)
Polish najmniejsza wspólna wielokrotność
  • najmniejsza wspólna wielokrotność(number theory)
Portuguese mínimo múltiplo comum
  • mínimo múltiplo comum(number theory)
Romanian cel mai mic multiplu comun, c.m.m.m.c.
  • cel mai mic multiplu comun(number theory)
  • c.m.m.m.c.(number theory)
Russian наиме́ньшее о́бщее кра́тное, НОК
  • наиме́ньшее о́бщее кра́тное (naiménʹšeje óbščeje krátnoje)(number theory)
  • НОК (NOK)(number theory)
Spanish mínimo común múltiplo
  • mínimo común múltiplo(number theory)
Tagalog pinakamaliit na lahatang kaparami
  • pinakamaliit na lahatang kaparami(number theory)
Thai ตัวคูณร่วมน้อย
  • ตัวคูณร่วมน้อย (dtuua-kuun-rûuam-nɔ́ɔi)(number theory)
Turkish ortak katların en küçüğü
  • ortak katların en küçüğü(number theory)
Ukrainian найме́нше спі́льне кра́тне, НСК
  • найме́нше спі́льне кра́тне (najménše spílʹne krátne)(number theory)
  • НСК (NSK)(number theory)
Vietnamese bội chung nhỏ nhất, bội số chung nhỏ nhất
  • bội chung nhỏ nhất(number theory)
  • bội số chung nhỏ nhất(number theory)
Cite this entry
APA

least common multiple. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/least%20common%20multiple

MLA

“least common multiple.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/least%20common%20multiple. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “least common multiple,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/least%20common%20multiple.

Source: least common multiple on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.