Find the LCD 1/(4x) and 3/(7x+1)

Finding the LCD of a list of values is the same as finding the LCM of the denominators of those values.

Since ${\displaystyle 4x,7x+1}$ contain both numbers and variables, there are four steps to find the LCM. Find LCM for the numeric, variable, and compound variable parts. Then, multiply them all together.

Steps to find the LCM for ${\displaystyle 4x,7x+1}$ are:

1. Find the LCM for the numeric part ${\displaystyle 4,1}$.

2. Find the LCM for the variable part ${\displaystyle x^1}$.

3. Find the LCM for the compound variable part ${\displaystyle 7x+1}$.

4. Multiply each LCM together.

The LCM is the smallest positive number that all of the numbers divide into evenly.

1. List the prime factors of each number.

2. Multiply each factor the greatest number of times it occurs in either number.

${\displaystyle 4}$ has factors of ${\displaystyle 2}$ and ${\displaystyle 2}$.

The number ${\displaystyle 1}$ is not a prime number because it only has one positive factor, which is itself.

Not prime

The LCM of ${\displaystyle 4,1}$ is the result of multiplying all prime factors the greatest number of times they occur in either number.

Multiply ${\displaystyle 2}$ by ${\displaystyle 2}$.

The factor for ${\displaystyle x^1}$ is ${\displaystyle x}$ itself.

${\displaystyle x}$ occurs ${\displaystyle 1}$ time.

The LCM of ${\displaystyle x^1}$ is the result of multiplying all prime factors the greatest number of times they occur in either term.

The factor for ${\displaystyle 7x+1}$ is ${\displaystyle 7x+1}$ itself.

${\displaystyle (7x+1)}$ occurs ${\displaystyle 1}$ time.

The LCM of ${\displaystyle 7x+1}$ is the result of multiplying all factors the greatest number of times they occur in either term.