What does the least common multiple refer to?

The least common multiple (LCM) refers to the smallest multiple that two or more numbers have in common. It is the lowest number that is a multiple of each of the numbers involved. For example, if you consider the numbers 4 and 5, the multiples of 4 are 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, and so on, while the multiples of 5 are 5, 10, 15, 20, and so forth. The smallest multiple that appears in both lists is 20, making it the least common multiple of 4 and 5. Understanding the concept of LCM is important for tasks that involve finding common denominators in fractions or solving problems that require syncing different cycles or patterns.