Precalculus Examples

$- 1$ , $- 1$ , $2 - 3 i$

Step 1

The LCM is the smallest positive number that all of the numbers divide into evenly.

1. List the prime factors of each number.

2. Multiply each factor the greatest number of times it occurs in either number.

Step 2

Since the LCM is the smallest positive number, $LCM (- 1, - 1, 2 - 3 i) = LCM (1, 1, 2 - 3 i)$

Step 3

The number $1$ is not a prime number because it only has one positive factor, which is itself.

Not prime

Step 4

The prime factorization cannot be found because $2 - 3 i$ is not an integer.

No Prime Factorization

Step 5

The LCM of $1, 1, 2 - 3 i$ is the result of multiplying all prime factors the greatest number of times they occur in either number.

$2$