All about flooble | fun stuff | Get a free chatterbox | Free JavaScript | Avatars    
perplexus dot info

Home > Just Math
Incredible, but solvable (Posted on 2015-10-30) Difficulty: 4 of 5
A puzzle by Princeton mathematician John Horton Conway:

Last night I sat behind two wizards on a bus, and overheard the following:

A: I have a positive integral number of children, whose ages are positive integers, the sum of which is the number of this bus, while the product is my own age.
B: How interesting! Perhaps if you told me your age and the number of your children, I could work out their individual ages?
A: No.
B: Aha! AT LAST I know how old you are!

Rem: Taking in account the fatherhood limitations, this is uniquely solvable.

No Solution Yet Submitted by Ady TZIDON    
No Rating

Comments: ( Back to comment list | You must be logged in to post comments.)
re: computer aided solution | Comment 4 of 13 |
(In reply to computer aided solution by Charlie)

Nicely done, Charlie!


Based on reading the problem, I guessed that the age was either 36 or 48, and 3 or 4 or 5 children (most likely 4), but I did not have time yet to work out a solution.  

By the way, you could have limited your program to a number of children from 3 to 9, as it can never be two.  If there are only 2 children, their ages can always be worked out when their product and sum is known.

  Posted by Steve Herman on 2015-10-30 17:09:11
Please log in:
Login:
Password:
Remember me:
Sign up! | Forgot password


Search:
Search body:
Forums (0)
Newest Problems
Random Problem
FAQ | About This Site
Site Statistics
New Comments (0)
Unsolved Problems
Top Rated Problems
This month's top
Most Commented On

Chatterbox:
Copyright © 2002 - 2024 by Animus Pactum Consulting. All rights reserved. Privacy Information