[net.math] A new number puzzle

dejongh@osu-dbs.UUCP (11/10/83)

Here is one for you who have not seen it before.

	Tom and Jerry are walking down the street together.  Tom says 
	to Jerry:
			
			-I have three children.
			-If you multiply their ages together, you get 36.
			-If you add their ages together, you get the number
			 of the house across the street.
			-How old are they?

	Jerry thinks about it for awhile and asks for another clue, 
	to which Tom replies:
	
			-The oldest one plays piano.
			
	And Jerry gave him the correct answers.
	
	
What are their ages and why?  I will post the solution in a week or so.

sr@u1100a.UUCP (11/11/83)

I figure the kids are 9, 2 and 2.

I looked at the factor triples of 36 and the sums of the triples:
1+1+36=38	1+2+18=21
1+3+12=16	1+6+6=13
1+4+9=14	2+2+9=13
3+3+4=10	2+3+6=11
Since the triple is uniquely determined for any house number not equal 13,
the other clue is required.
I interpreted the oldest to mean that the twins are 2 rather than 6.

Steve Radtke
u1100a!sr