102. When a first number contains a second, or is divisible by it without remainder, the first is called a multiple of the second. The words _multiple_ and _measure_ are thus connected: Since 4 is a measure of 24, 24 is a multiple of 4. The number 96 is a multiple of 8, 12, 24, 48, and several others. It is therefore called a _common multiple_ of 8, 12, 24. 48, &c. The product of any two numbers is evidently a common multiple of both. Thus, 36 × 8, or 288, is a common multiple of 36 and 8. But there are common multiples of 36 and 8 less than 288; and because it is convenient, when a common multiple of two quantities is wanted, to use the least of them, I now shew how to find the least common multiple of two numbers. 103. Take, for example, 36 and 8. Find their greatest common measure, which is 4, and observe that 36 is 9 × 4, and 8 is 2 × 4. The quotients of 36 and 8, when divided by their greatest common measure, are therefore 9 and 2. Multiply these quotients together, and multiply the product by the greatest common measure, 4, which gives 9 × 2 × 4, or 72. This is a multiple of 8, or of 4 × 2 by (55); and also of 36 or of 4 × 9. It is also the least common multiple; but this cannot be proved to you, because the demonstration cannot be thoroughly understood without more practice in the use of letters to stand for numbers. But you may satisfy yourself that it is the least in this case, and that the same process will give the least common multiple in any other case which you may take. It is not even necessary that you should know it is the least. Whenever a common multiple is to be used, any one will do as well as the least. It is only to avoid large numbers that the least is used in preference to any other. When the greatest common measure is 1, the least common multiple of the two numbers is their product. The rule then is: To find the least common multiple of two numbers, find their greatest common measure, and multiply one of the numbers by the quotient which the other gives when divided by the greatest common measure. To find the least common multiple of three numbers, find the least common multiple of the first two, and find the least common multiple of that multiple and the third, and so on. EXERCISES. Numbers proposed. | Least common multiple. 14, 21 | 42 16, 5, 24 | 240 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 | 2520 6, 8, 11, 16, 20 | 2640 876, 864 | 63072 868, 854 | 52948