The prime factorization of 360 can be written in the form

(a^m)(b^n)(c^r). What is the valye of a+b+c-mnr

3 answers

go ahead, express 360 in that form.

360 = 2* 180
= 2*2*90
= 2*2*2*45
= 2*2*2*3*3*5
= 2^3 * 3^2 * 5^1

so , what do you think ?
5 is not one of the choices.
You are missing the main point, I did not say that 5 was the answer.

First of all, you have to agree that
2^3 * 3^2 * 5^1 = 360

now match (a^m)(b^n)(c^r) with 2^3 * 3^2 * 5^1

clearly:
a = 2
b = 3
c = 5
m = 3
n = 2
r = 1
then a+b+c-mnr
= 2+3+5 - 3(2)(1)
= 10 - 6
= 4