2. What is the greatest common measure of 612 a'rid 

 540 ^ Ar.s. 36. 



3. What is the greatest common measure of 720, 336 

 and 1736 ? Ans. 8. 



PROBLEM It. 



5n> ^/id the least common multiple of tivo cr more fiutiihers. 

 RULE.* 



1. Divide by any number, that will divide two or mord 

 qf the given numbers without a remainder, and set the 

 quotients, together with the undivided numbers, in a Hne 

 beneath. 



2. Divide the second line as before, nnd so on, till there 

 are no two numbers that can be divided ; then the con- 

 tinued product of the divisors and quotients will give the 

 muhiple required. 



EXAMPLES. 



I. What Is the least common multiple of 3, 5, 8 and 10? 

 5)3 5 8 10 



2)318 2 



3 I 4 * 



5X2X3X4:=: 120 the answer. 



2. What 



ures the less, which is absurd. Therefore 54 is the greatest com- 

 mon measure. 



In the very same manner, the demonstration may be applied to 

 3 or more numbers. 



* The reason of this rule may also be shewn from the first ex- 

 ample, thus : it is evident, that 3 X 5 X 8 X 10= 1200 may be di- 

 vided by 3, 5, 8, and 10, without a remainder ; but 10 is a mul- 

 tiple of 5, therefore 3x5x8x2, of 240, is also divisible by 3, 

 5, 8, and 10. Also 8 is a multiple of 2,; therefore 3 X5 X4X 

 2=120 is also divisible by 3, 5, 8, and lo j and is evidently th^- 

 least number that can be bO dividwd. 



