Answer :
What you're discussing here is prime factorization (or turning a number into the multiples of its prime numbers). 18 becomes 2*3*3. 48 becomes 2*2*2*2*3. They share one 2 and one 3 in those prime factors. Which is why 6 is their least common multiple (or LCM). Because, 2*3 = 6.
lcm=least common multiplule
factor
18=2*3*3
48=2*2*2*2*3
we need to have at least two 3's and four 2's
lcm=2*2*2*2*3*3=144
factor
18=2*3*3
48=2*2*2*2*3
we need to have at least two 3's and four 2's
lcm=2*2*2*2*3*3=144