How do you find the LCM of #x^8- 12x^7 +36x^6, 3x^2- 108# and #7x+ 42#?
1 Answer
Dec 26, 2016
The LCM is:
#21x^9-126x^8-756x^7+4536x^6#
Explanation:
For this question, it's probably easiest to factor all of the polynomials first:
#x^8-12x^7+36x^6 = x^6(x^2-12x+36) = x^6(x-6)^2#
#3x^2-108 = 3(x^2-36) = 3(x-6)(x+6)#
#7x+42 = 7(x+6)#
So the LCM of the scalar factors is that of
The simplest product of polynomial factors including all of the linear factors we have found, in their multiplicities is:
#x^6(x-6)^2(x+6) = x^6(x-6)(x^2-36)#
#color(white)(x^6(x-6)^2(x+6)) = x^6(x^3-6x^2-36x+216)#
#color(white)(x^6(x-6)^2(x+6)) = x^9-6x^8-36x^7+216x^6#
So to get the LCM of the original polynomials, we just need to multiply this by
#21(x^9-6x^8-36x^7+216x^6) = 21x^9-126x^8-756x^7+4536x^6#