LCM With Variable Number of Arguments

[Mark Lookabaugh]

Hi,

I have a list of numbers, and I'd like to get the LCM of all the
values in the list. The list isn't always the same length at runtime.

What's the syntax to specify that?

For example:

If I have myList = { 2, 3, 4, 5 }
I'd like to do something like LCM[myList] and get 60.

but that actually returns { 2, 3, 4, 5 } (I guess performing LCM on
each element individually).

How can I get LCM to act on a bunch of values at once?

Thanks for any help,
Mark

--
Mark Lookabaugh
mlookabaugh (at) cox.net
USS Brewton FF-1086 Home Page
http://www.ussbrewton.com

[David Park]

Mark,

LCM does not work on lists, but on arguments. Use the Apply function.

LCM @@ {2, 3, 4, 5}
60

list = {1, 2, 6, 5, 3};
LCM @@ list
30

The list can be any length.

David Park
***@earthlink.net
http://home.earthlink.net/~djmp/

From: Mark Lookabaugh [mailto:***@NO_ADS.cox.net]

Hi,

I have a list of numbers, and I'd like to get the LCM of all the
values in the list. The list isn't always the same length at runtime.

What's the syntax to specify that?

For example:

If I have myList = { 2, 3, 4, 5 }
I'd like to do something like LCM[myList] and get 60.

but that actually returns { 2, 3, 4, 5 } (I guess performing LCM on
each element individually).

How can I get LCM to act on a bunch of values at once?

Thanks for any help,
Mark

--
Mark Lookabaugh
mlookabaugh (at) cox.net
USS Brewton FF-1086 Home Page
http://www.ussbrewton.com

[Steven Shippee]

Regarding LCM (Least Common Multiple) - it works on various elements, but
they must be in brackets, not parenthesis.

For example, you wanted to act on myList = { 2, 3, 4, 5 }

if you change this to LCM[2, 3, 4, 5 ]
Mathematica will return the answer you expect, 60.

Thanks in advance,

Steven Shippee
***@jcs.mil
[phone]

Post by Mark Lookabaugh
Hi,
I have a list of numbers, and I'd like to get the LCM of all the
values in the list. The list isn't always the same length at runtime.
What's the syntax to specify that?
If I have myList = { 2, 3, 4, 5 }
I'd like to do something like LCM[myList] and get 60.
but that actually returns { 2, 3, 4, 5 } (I guess performing LCM on
each element individually).
How can I get LCM to act on a bunch of values at once?
Thanks for any help,
Mark
--
Mark Lookabaugh
mlookabaugh (at) cox.net
USS Brewton FF-1086 Home Page
http://www.ussbrewton.com

[Carl K. Woll]

Mark,

LCM is expecting to be used as LCM[2,3,4,5] and not LCM[{2,3,4,5}]. So, you
should use Apply (shorthand @@) as follows:

LCM @@ myList

Carl Woll
Physics Dept
U of Washington

Post by Mark Lookabaugh
Hi,
I have a list of numbers, and I'd like to get the LCM of all the
values in the list. The list isn't always the same length at runtime.
What's the syntax to specify that?
If I have myList = { 2, 3, 4, 5 }
I'd like to do something like LCM[myList] and get 60.
but that actually returns { 2, 3, 4, 5 } (I guess performing LCM on
each element individually).
How can I get LCM to act on a bunch of values at once?
Thanks for any help,
Mark
--
Mark Lookabaugh
mlookabaugh (at) cox.net
USS Brewton FF-1086 Home Page
http://www.ussbrewton.com

[Dr Bob]

myList = {2, 3, 4, 5};
LCM @@ myList

60

Bobby

On Sat, 23 Aug 2003 08:09:06 -0400 (EDT), Mark Lookabaugh

Post by Mark Lookabaugh
Hi,
I have a list of numbers, and I'd like to get the LCM of all the
values in the list. The list isn't always the same length at runtime.
What's the syntax to specify that?
If I have myList = { 2, 3, 4, 5 }
I'd like to do something like LCM[myList] and get 60.
but that actually returns { 2, 3, 4, 5 } (I guess performing LCM on
each element individually).
How can I get LCM to act on a bunch of values at once?
Thanks for any help,
Mark
--
Mark Lookabaugh
mlookabaugh (at) cox.net
USS Brewton FF-1086 Home Page
http://www.ussbrewton.com