Answer:
48
Step-by-step explanation:
set up a proportion of 1/3 and x/144 and then divide 144 by 3 which is 48
[tex]\stackrel{\textit{ratio of 1~:~3}}{\cfrac{males}{females}~~ = ~~\cfrac{1}{3}}\implies \cfrac{males}{144}~~ = ~~\cfrac{1}{3}\implies 3males=144 \\\\\\ males=\cfrac{144}{3}\implies males=48[/tex]