Creativity Quiz !

[frostie]

One of my lecturers gave me this quiz.

So let's see what you are made of !



John is charged with the task of determining the ages of Steve's three children. Steve tells John that the product of the children’s ages is 36. After considering this clue, John replies that another clue is required, so Steve tells John the sum of the children’s ages. Again, John replies that another clue is needed, so Steve tells John that the oldest child plays the piano. After hearing this clue, John tells Steve the ages of the three children.

How old are the three children?

[Lion]

They are triplets, 12 years old!!!

[frostie]

Yes they are triplets

Let's see what the other members will say

Can you find the age of each child ?

[B. Doggy]

18, 2, 1

[frostie]

Originally Posted by B. Doggy

18, 2, 1

Sorry but you have to try again !

Hint: Focus on the last clue if you want to find the correct answer

[Brunotheboxer]

3:00 pm

[scottschoe]

2 3 6
1 2 18
1 4 9
1 3 12
etc

they can't be triplets

[frostie]

Keep in mind :


At first glance the last clue seems to be totally unrelated to the problem, yet it is apparently this clue that allows A to finally determine the ages of the children. How can this be?

[scottschoe]

Originally Posted by frostie

Keep in mind :


At first glance the last clue seems to be totally unrelated to the problem, yet it is apparently this clue that allows A to finally determine the ages of the children. How can this be?

It means that there cannot be triplets. I think you're missing some of the info in the actual problem.

[Mrdi]

2,3,6

12 x 12 x 12 is not 36

Factor x Factor = product
"The product of the 3 children"s ages is 36."
a 6 or an 18 year old could play the piano

[Mrdi]

1,2,18 would also be correct
as well as Scotts factors

1,2,3,4,6,9,12,18,or 36 any combo of 3 factors that = 36

[Gerry]

Ok, took some thinking but I think I have it. This is a pretty brute force method but there must be a simpler way of doing it.

Steve said the product of their ages was 36. I think the possible combinations are (might have missed some out here):

1,2,18 - Sum = 21
1,3,12 - Sum = 16
1,4,9 - Sum =14
1,6,6 - Sum =13
2,2,9 - Sum = 13
2,3,6 - Sum = 11
3,3,4 - Sum = 10

John still needed another clue so Steve told him the sum. Every sum is unique except the possibilities 2,2,9 and 1,6,6 so there are still two choices. Steve said the oldest plays piano which means it has to be two year old twins and a nine year old ... unless I missed a combination out above and screwed up the whole thing!!

[frostie]

Originally Posted by Gerry

Ok, took some thinking but I think I have it. This is a pretty brute force method but there must be a simpler way of doing it.

Steve said the product of their ages was 36. I think the possible combinations are (might have missed some out here):

1,2,18 - Sum = 21
1,3,12 - Sum = 16
1,4,9 - Sum =14
1,6,6 - Sum =13
2,2,9 - Sum = 13
2,3,6 - Sum = 11
3,3,4 - Sum = 10

John still needed another clue so Steve told him the sum. Every sum is unique except the possibilities 2,2,9 and 1,6,6 so there are still two choices. Steve said the oldest plays piano which means it has to be two year old twins and a nine year old ... unless I missed a combination out above and screwed up the whole thing!!

2,2,9 ?

or

1,6,6 ?

[Gerry]

2,2,9 since "Steve tells John that the oldest child plays the piano."

or 1,6,6 if Steve's measuring the age in terms of hours. Sometimes people talk about the older twin. I'm still going with 2,2,9, though.

[Jocke]

Originally Posted by frostie

One of my lecturers gave me this quiz.

So let's see what you are made of !



John is charged with the task of determining the ages of Steve's three children. Steve tells John that the product of the children’s ages is 36. After considering this clue, John replies that another clue is required, so Steve tells John the sum of the children’s ages. Again, John replies that another clue is needed, so Steve tells John that the oldest child plays the piano. After hearing this clue, John tells Steve the ages of the three children.

How old are the three children?

The correct answer is: Not very old.



Jocke