The LCM is the smallest number that can be divided by each of the denominators of a set of fractions The steps to find the LCD are as follows: Write down each of the different denominators that appear in the given fractions Factor each of these denominators completely Form a product using each of the different factors obtained in step 2 Use each different factor the greatest number of times it appears in an single denominator The product formed by multiplying the different factors is the LCD For example, if the denominators of three fractions are 24, 18, and 36: 24 = 2 x 2 x 2 x 3 18 = 2 x 3 x 3 36 = 2 x 2 x 3 x 3 LCD = 2 x 2 x 2 x 3 x 3 = 72
the smallest number that can be evenly divided by all denominators in the problem -- " find the least common multiple of the denominators (called the least common denominator or LCD) " (167)