whats the lcm of 20x^2y^4 and 16x^5y^4

Question

20x^2y^4 and 16x^5y^4

Answer 1

first, the numbers

20 = 2 * 2 * 5

16 = 2 * 2 * 2 * 2

the lcm is 2 * 2 * 2 * 2 * 5 because 2 * 2 * 2 * 2 * 5 contains a 2 * 2 * 5 (to make 20) and a 2 * 2 * 2 * 2 (to make 16)

2 * 2 * 2 * 2 * 5 = 80

the lcm of 20 and 16 is 80

now the x's

the lcm of x^2 and x^5 is x^5

note: x^5 = x^2 * x^3

now the y's

the lcm of y^4 and y^4 is y^4

the lcm of the whole thing is 80(x^5)(y^4)