Question

On a morning walk, three persons step off together and their steps measure 40 cm, 42 cm and 45 cm, respectively. What is the minimum distance each should walk so that each can cover the same distance in complete steps?

Answer 1

We have to find the LCM of 40 cm, 42 cm and 45 cm to get the required minimum distance.

For this, 40 = 2 × 2 × 2 × 5

42 = 2 × 3 × 7

And 45 = 3 × 3 × 5

∴ LCM(40, 42, 45) = 2 × 3 × 5 × 2 × 2 × 3 × 7

= 2520

Minimum distance each should walk is 2520 cm so that each can cover the same distance in complete steps.