
Two mathematicians, Albert and Isaac, are walking down the street. It's not long before the conversation
turns to puzzles. Albert says that he has three grandchildren and that the product of their three ages
is 36. He adds that the sum of the three ages is equal to the address of the house in front of them.
Isaac thinks it over and says he needs another clue. Albert says that the youngest two children
occasionally wear the old clothes of the eldest child.
What are the ages of the 3 grandchildren?
ANSWER:
2, 2, and 9.
EXPLANATION: There are 8 possibilities from the first clue, which are:
1, 1, and 36
1, 2, and 18
1, 3, and 12
1, 4. and 9
1, 6, and 6
2, 2, and 9
2, 3, and 6
3, 3, and 4
The second clue, the sum of the three ages was not enough to solve the puzzle which means that at least
two of the above possibilities have the same sum. Both
1, 6, and 6 and
2, 2, and 9
have a sum of 13. The final clue about there being two young children and an eldest sibling narrows it
down to 2, 2, and 9.
Do you have a
suggestion for this puzzle (e.g. something that should
be mentioned/clarified in the question or solution, bug, typo, etc.)?