| Username |
Post |
| Terminator |
Posted
on 14-Mar-02 11:44 AM
A waiter asks the customer how old his kids are. The custmer happend to be a great Nepalese mathematician (no, not an oxymoron). He replied: "Product of the ages of my three kids is 72. Sum of their ages is written on the door outside."
The waiter goes outside and looks for the number on the door. He comes back and replies: "That information is not enough"
Then the mathematician says: "My youngest daughter's favorite icecream flavor is Vanilla"
So how old his three kids are?
Any one wants to give a try?
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| math guru |
Posted
on 14-Mar-02 11:56 AM
The ages of his 3 kids are nine, four and two. tada....
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| arnico |
Posted
on 14-Mar-02 11:57 AM
3, 4, 6 ? sum = 13
2, 4, 9 ? sum = 15
I don't get the vanilla clue...
arnico.
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| Math Expert |
Posted
on 14-Mar-02 12:13 PM
Since this is a 3-variable system, we need three equations to solve the problem. First one is easy: xyz = 72
Second one: x+y+z = ? (we are not given, only the waiter knows but he thinks its not enough)
What to with Vanilla?
Help!
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| geenius |
Posted
on 14-Mar-02 12:17 PM
This problem defies the laws of Mathematics and Physics.
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| hmmm.... |
Posted
on 14-Mar-02 12:18 PM
Somehow, this quesiton does not seem to be only a Math question.
Or the thread originator is just pulling some legs.
How can one solve this problem. Makes me go hmmm....
Hoohi
hmmm....
Hamrika
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| math11 |
Posted
on 14-Mar-02 12:19 PM
What ever VANILA meaning... it has to be either 6,4,3 or 9,4 ,2 as arnico said.
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| Terminator |
Posted
on 14-Mar-02 12:31 PM
OK!!! It does have a clever solution!
Since the product is 72, what are the possibilites?
2x2x18 (sum = 22)
2x3x12 (sum = 17)
2x4xx9 (sum = 15)
2x6x6 (sum = 14)
3x3x8 (sum = 14)
3x4x6 (sum = 13)
Now the second clue: the waiter says the sum information is not enough. That means it has to be either 2x6x6 or 3x3x8 (because they both give the same sum 14, its ambigous right?)
Then the third clue: "my youngest daughter...." That means it has to be 2x6x6 because 3x3x8 will have not have one youngest daughter but two. Thus the answer is 2x6x6.
Is not that cool?
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| math guru |
Posted
on 14-Mar-02 12:36 PM
This also means that the Nepali has twins, right?
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