 P-adic valuation

For a prime number $p$ and a nonzero integer $N$, the P-adic valuation counts the exponent of $p$ in its prime factorization:For $72=2^3\cdot 3^2$, it gives $v_2(72)=3$, $v_3(72)=2$, and $v_5(72)=0$. The sign of a nonzero integer does not change these prime exponents. Relative to an ordered factor base, the valuations supply the coordinates of its exponent vector.

The P-adic valuation extends to nonzero rational numbers by $v_p(a/b)=v_p(a)-v_p(b)$. For example, $v_5(72/25)=-2$ records a factor in the denominator instead of the numerator. Multiplication adds valuations, $v_p(xy)=v_p(x)+v_p(y)$; this is the arithmetic reason why adding exponent vectors can make a product a square. In particular, a positive integer is a square of a number precisely when all its prime exponents are even integers, the criterion used by a factor base.