The factored form of 9 is 3 x 3 = 3²
The factored form of 12 is 2 x 2 x 3 = 2²·3
The answer is the number created by each base to its largest exponent: LCM = 3² · 2² = 36.
(Ignore the 3 from the second number because there is a 3² in the first number.)
