LCM_EXCEL2003 Function (LibreOffice Calc)
Calculate integer common multiples with LibreOffice LCM_EXCEL2003, including zero inputs, precision limits and its compatibility-name history.
Verification status: Official release source and independent examples for LCM_EXCEL2003 were reviewed. Imported formulas that mapped to other internal functions do not verify this compatibility entry; the guide preserves that limitation. How formula examples are checked
Quick answer: =LCM_EXCEL2003(16;32;24) returns 96. It finds the smallest positive common multiple of positive whole-number inputs. Use it when maintaining a workbook that specifically needs this Analysis Add-In compatibility function.
Availability and version history
- Introduced: First calculation release not established. The 5.1 source-line rename changed LCM_ADD to this compatibility name.
- Supported in: LibreOffice 26.8.1.1. No final supported release has been established.
- Scope: Desktop Calc; compatibility function, retained rather than retired.
- Checked: October 14, 2026. Pinned source and independent examples checked. This compatibility name was not natively executed; tests of other imported names are separate.
What LCM_EXCEL2003 calculates
A common multiple can be divided by every input without a remainder. For positive inputs, the least one is the first positive quantity at which all the cycles or pack sizes fit exactly. It is not normally their sum, and it can be much larger than any individual input.
The function reference documents this spelling. For new documents, the release recommends the unsuffixed LCM function. The suffix refers to compatibility with older Excel workbooks; it does not mean the function has been removed.
Syntax and inputs
=LCM_EXCEL2003(Number1 [; Number2 [; …]])
Provide at least one numeric value or a reference containing numeric values. Additional values and ranges are optional. For example, place 16, 32 and 24 in B2:B4, then use =LCM_EXCEL2003(B2:B4) to obtain 96. Semicolons separate arguments in these Calc examples; a colon joins the endpoints of a range.
Use nonnegative whole numbers for ordinary counting applications. A zero has a special role: if any input is zero, the result is zero. This is an implementation convention; it does not mean a real-world cycle with period zero is meaningful. Negative inputs are rejected by the release input guard.
The pinned LibreOffice implementation floors nonnegative inputs before combining them. Still, supply integer counts explicitly so readers can see whether truncation is intentional.
Reproducible examples
Enter each formula in a separate cell formatted as a number. These values follow independent integer arithmetic and the source-backed zero rules.
| Formula | Expected result |
|---|---|
=LCM_EXCEL2003(16;32;24) |
96 |
=LCM_EXCEL2003(9;12;6) |
36 |
=LCM_EXCEL2003(3;5) |
15 |
=LCM_EXCEL2003(0;12) |
0 |
=LCM_EXCEL2003(0;0) |
0 |
=LCM_EXCEL2003(18;24) |
72 |
=LCM_EXCEL2003(48;180) |
720 |
=LCM_EXCEL2003(4;6) |
12 |
=LCM_EXCEL2003(6;15;20) |
60 |
=LCM_EXCEL2003(7;11) |
77 |
=LCM_EXCEL2003(42) |
42 |
=LCM_EXCEL2003(72;108;180) |
1080 |
Practical example: synchronized maintenance intervals
Two machines need a scheduled check every 4 and 6 hours, starting together at hour zero. =LCM_EXCEL2003(4;6) returns 12 hours, the next positive time when both are due. Store the periods in B2:B3 and calculate =LCM_EXCEL2003(B2:B3) in E2. =E2/B2 and =E2/B3 give 3 and 2 intervals respectively.
The starting alignment is essential. If one machine’s schedule starts later, taking the LCM of the periods alone does not solve the offset problem. Both periods must also use the same unit; convert minutes to hours or hours to minutes before combining them.
Advanced example: common pack quantity
Components are available in packs of 6, 15 and 20. =LCM_EXCEL2003(6;15;20) returns 60, allowing whole pack counts of 10, 4 and 3. Store the pack sizes in B2:B4, calculate the common quantity once in E2, then divide E2 by each pack size. Multiplying each result back by its pack size should recover 60.
For two positive integers a and b, the identity LCM(a,b)×GCD(a,b)=a×b gives an independent consistency check. For 18 and 24, the LCM is 72 and the GCD is 6: both products are 432. This identity does not remove floating-point limits; large products can lose integer precision or overflow.
Errors, compatibility and verification
Numeric-looking text is not a reliable substitute for numeric cells. First verify the stored types and range boundaries. Test empty cells, Booleans and errors in the installed application if those inputs are part of your actual workbook; the examples deliberately use explicit numeric values.
A large result can exceed exact integer precision even when each individual input is representable. Keep counts within the reliable range of the spreadsheet’s numeric representation and use a number format that reveals the result rather than rounding away a discrepancy. Formatting a decimal to show no places does not make the stored value an integer.
When moving an old OpenOffice workbook into current LibreOffice, this calculation uses LCM_EXCEL2003 rather than LCM_ADD. A UI rename is different from a changed first-introduction date. Check the stored formula and results after conversion.
The release evaluator and input guard support the calculation and restrictions above. The numerical examples are independently checked; the availability section states the actual execution scope.