Word problem. Any smart people here?

[fyleow]

..

 

[minendo]

There are several different answers.

 

[gopunk]

sorry i assumed the census taker was just stupid

 

[MikeO]

Any smart people here?

No, sorry, wrong forum. We're all morons here, all the smart ones are at Highly Technical.

 

[br0wn]

The only answer is 2, 2 and 9.

 

[Wallydraigle]

42

 

[fyleow]

..

 

[habib89]

Originally posted by: br0wn
The only answer is 2, 2 and 9.

why is that the only answer? gopunk's answers sound good too.. although initially i chose what you did.. 2, 2, 9... now i think about it, it can also be 3, 3, 4 or 2, 3, 6.. there's a whole mess of answers

 

[Legendary]

Originally posted by: fyleow
There's only one correct answer. There's supposed to be a clue somewhere....

When you say supposed to be does that mean there isn't?
The only clue is that his daughter Annie is older than the other two.

 

[gopunk]

Originally posted by: habib89

Originally posted by: br0wn
The only answer is 2, 2 and 9.

why is that the only answer? gopunk's answers sound good too.. although initially i chose what you did.. 2, 2, 9... now i think about it, it can also be 3, 3, 4 or 2, 3, 6.. there's a whole mess of answers

i realized my mistake.... she said he'd be stumped because there are several sets of factors that would add up to 13. of them, 2, 2, 9 is the only one with an oldest daughter

 

[br0wn]

Here is my analysis:

The product of their ages is 36. This sentence means their ages can be:
1. 1, 1 and 36
2. 1, 3 and 12
3. 1, 4 and 9
4. 1, 6, and 6
5. 2, 2, and 9
6. 2, 3, and 6
7. 3, 3, and 4
8. 1, 2, and 18

I'd tell you the sum of the ages but you'd still be stumped, means:
1. 1, 1 and 36, sum = 38
2. 1, 3 and 12, sum = 16
3. 1, 4 and 9, sum = 14
4. 1, 6, and 6, sum = 13
5. 2, 2, and 9, sum = 13
6. 2, 3, and 6, sum = 11
7. 3, 3, and 4, sum = 10
8. 1, 2, and 18, sum = 21
From this sentence, it eliminates all choices except two which are:
1, 6 and 6 with 2, 2 and 9 since both sums are equal (13).

My oldest daughter Annie likes dogs. This implies that the oldest (can't be twins, of course it is just
my assumption, but it makes the puzzle has a unique solution).
Thus, the only answer is 2, 2 and 9.

edit: fixed the list a bit .

 

[Cyberian]

Originally posted by: br0wn
The only answer is 2, 2 and 9.

Well done, and a good explanation.

 

[TallBill]

cuz hed be stumped.. theres 2 solutions to a product of 36 that have the same sum

 

[habib89]

Originally posted by: br0wn
Here is my analysis:

The product of their ages is 36. This sentence means their ages can be:
1. 1, 1 and 36
2. 1, 3 and 12
3. 1, 4 and 9
4. 1, 6, and 6
5. 2, 2, and 9
6. 2, 3, and 6
7. 3, 3, and 4
8. 1, 2, and 18

I'd tell you the sum of the ages but you'd still be stumped, means:
1. 1, 1 and 36, sum = 38
2. 1, 3 and 12, sum = 16
3. 1, 4 and 9, sum = 14
4. 1, 6, and 6, sum = 13
5. 2, 2, and 9, sum = 13
6. 2, 3, and 6, sum = 11
7. 3, 3, and 4, sum = 10
8. 1, 2, and 18, sum = 21
From this sentence, it eliminates all choices except two which are:
1, 6 and 6 with 2, 2 and 9 since both sums are equal (13).

My oldest daughter Annie likes dogs. This implies that the oldest (can't be twins, of course it is just
my assumption, but it makes the puzzle has a unique solution).
Thus, the only answer is 2, 2 and 9.

edit: fixed the list a bit .

ah.. very good

 

[atrowe]

Originally posted by: br0wn
Here is my analysis:

The product of their ages is 36. This sentence means their ages can be:
1. 1, 1 and 36
2. 1, 3 and 12
3. 1, 4 and 9
4. 1, 6, and 6
5. 2, 2, and 9
6. 2, 3, and 6
7. 3, 3, and 4
8. 1, 2, and 18

I'd tell you the sum of the ages but you'd still be stumped, means:
1. 1, 1 and 36, sum = 38
2. 1, 3 and 12, sum = 16
3. 1, 4 and 9, sum = 14
4. 1, 6, and 6, sum = 13
5. 2, 2, and 9, sum = 13
6. 2, 3, and 6, sum = 11
7. 3, 3, and 4, sum = 10
8. 1, 2, and 18, sum = 21
From this sentence, it eliminates all choices except two which are:
1, 6 and 6 with 2, 2 and 9 since both sums are equal (13).

My oldest daughter Annie likes dogs. This implies that the oldest (can't be twins, of course it is just
my assumption, but it makes the puzzle has a unique solution).
Thus, the only answer is 2, 2 and 9.

edit: fixed the list a bit .

Well, it COULD be twins. One has to pop out before the other, so technically one twin (Annie) would be older than the other, even if by only a few minutes.