LCM of 36 and 48
The least common multiple of 36 and 48 is 144 — the smallest positive number into which both 36 and 48 divide evenly. This page lists the first twelve common multiples of the pair, which are exactly the multiples of 144.
36 and 48 share the factor 12, so their first meeting point comes earlier than the raw product: the LCM is (36 × 48) ÷ 12 = 1728 ÷ 12 = 144. Both numbers divide it exactly — 36 fits 4 times and 48 fits 3 times — and the pairing identity LCM × GCF = a × b holds again: 144 × 12 = 1728. After 144, the lines re-synchronize for good, so the common multiples continue 288, 432, 576, and onward.
| # | Common multiple |
|---|---|
| 1 | 144 |
| 2 | 288 |
| 3 | 432 |
| 4 | 576 |
| 5 | 720 |
| 6 | 864 |
| 7 | 1008 |
| 8 | 1152 |
| 9 | 1296 |
| 10 | 1440 |
| 11 | 1584 |
| 12 | 1728 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the LCM of 36 and 48?
The least common multiple of 36 and 48 is 144. The multiples of 36 begin 36, 72, 108, 144, … and the multiples of 48 begin 48, 96, 144, …, and 144 is the first value both lists share. Formula check: (36 × 48) ÷ GCF(36, 48) = 1728 ÷ 12 = 144.
How do you find the LCM of 36 and 48?
Compare prime factorizations: 36 = 2² × 3² and 48 = 2⁴ × 3. Carry every prime at its highest power into the answer: 2⁴ × 3² = 144. The shortcut through the GCF lands on the same value: (36 × 48) ÷ 12 = 144.
What is the GCF of 36 and 48?
12. The largest number dividing both. The identity GCF × LCM = 36 × 48 checks it against this page: 12 × 144 = 1728. The same GCF reduces fractions built on 36 and 48, while 144 is the common denominator that needs no reducing.
What are the common multiples of 36 and 48?
Exactly the multiples of the LCM: 144, 288, 432, 576, 720, 864, and onward without end. The table above lists the first twelve; every later one is another 144 steps out. These are the numbers into which both 36 and 48 divide evenly — which is why the LCM itself is the natural common denominator in fraction work.