What is the least positive integer by which should be multiplied so that the product is a perfect square?
Hint 1: Express composite bases 4 and 6 in terms of their prime factors 2 and 3.
Hint 2: Find the prime factorization of the entire number by summing the exponents of 2, 3, and 5.
Hint 3: For the product to be a perfect square, each prime factor must have an even exponent. Identify which exponents are odd.
Let the number be .
We find the prime factorization of by breaking down composite bases and :
Substitute these back into the expression for :
Combine the exponents for each prime base:
For a number to be a perfect square, all exponents in its prime factorization must be even integers.
Exponent of is (even, needs no factors).
Exponent of is (odd, needs to be multiplied by ).
Exponent of is (odd, needs to be multiplied by ).
Thus, the least positive integer by which must be multiplied is:
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