Mastering LCM Calculation in JavaScript: A Comprehensive Guide
Written on
Understanding the Least Common Multiple (LCM)
This guide delves into calculating the least common multiple (LCM) of a collection of numbers. In mathematical terms, the least common multiple of two positive integers, referred to as LCM(a, b), represents the smallest natural number that can be evenly divided by both integers a and b. Let's first clarify the problem at hand:
The Challenge: Least Common Multiple
Write a function that determines the least common multiple of its parameters, where each parameter is expected to be a non-negative integer. If no parameters are provided (or if the array is empty in compiled languages), the function should return 1. Additionally, if any parameter is 0, the return value should be 0.
The Approach to the Solution
To tackle this challenge, I can refer to the guidance provided on Wikipedia:
The resolution primarily involves utilizing the greatest common divisor (GCD). But how do we compute the GCD? I previously discussed this topic in another article:
How to Calculate the Greatest Common Divisor in JavaScript
A variety of methods exist for determining the GCD in JavaScript. Here’s a concise implementation:
const gcd = (x, y) => (y === 0 ? x : gcd(y, x % y));
Consequently, we can compute the least common multiple in JavaScript quite succinctly:
const lcm = (...n) => n.reduce((x, y) => (x * y) / gcd(x, y));
Thanks for reading! I hope you find this information helpful. Stay tuned for more insights.
The first video titled "Smallest Common Multiple -- JavaScript -- Free Code Camp" provides a detailed explanation and coding examples on how to compute the smallest common multiple using JavaScript.
The second video, "Smallest Common Multiple | Intermediate Algorithm Scripting | freeCodeCamp," offers a deeper dive into algorithm scripting and practical applications of finding the smallest common multiple.
Join our community for more content at PlainEnglish.io. Sign up for our complimentary weekly newsletter, and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Discord. If you're looking to expand your software startup, consider exploring Circuit.