1. The question asks how the number 144 was obtained. 2. To explain this, we need to know the context or the problem where 144 appears. 3. Commonly, 144 is recognized as $12^2$ or the square of 12. 4. For example, if the problem involved squaring 12, the formula used is $$a^2 = a \times a$$ where $a=12$. 5. Calculating this gives $$12^2 = 12 \times 12 = 144$$. 6. This means 144 is the result of multiplying 12 by itself. 7. Without additional context, this is the most straightforward explanation for obtaining 144.