Problema Solution

The prime factorization of the number -144 is -1 X 2^a X 3^b. What is a+b?

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The factorization of 144 is:

144 = (2^4)X(3^2)

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144 = -1 X 2^a X 3^b

-1 X 2^a X 3^b = -(2^4)X(3^2)

a = 4

b = 2

a + b = 4 + 2 = 6