Question: Two bird species migrate every 12 and 18 days. What is the least common multiple of their migration cycles?

Tue, 05 May 2026 13:17:18 +0000

Understanding Bird Migration: Finding the Least Common Multiple of Two Species’ Cycles Every year, migratory birds follow remarkable patterns, traveling thousands of miles between breeding and wintering grounds. A fascinating question often arises in ornithology and number theory: if two bird species migrate every 12 and 18 days, what is the least common multiple (LCM) of their migration cycles? Here’s how to solve it—and why this matters for bird watchers, researchers, and nature lovers alike. ### What Is the Least Common Multiple (LCM)? The least common multiple of two or more numbers is the smallest positive number that is evenly divisible by each of them. In practical terms, for bird migration, the LCM reveals the first time both species will be migrating on the same day again.