<prompt> To make a positive identification with the help of a partial fingerprint, the points of similarity should be at least -10121620  <response>: For this different textbooks have given a different number:-Parikh 16 characteristicsReddy 10 - 12 finer characteristicsSeth and Simpson 16 - 20 characteristics16 is given in more number of textbooks, so the answer is 16. 