You must set the ad_network_ads.txt file to be writable (check file name as well).
A good riddle if you're bored [Archive] - RonFez.net Messageboard
PDA

View Full Version : A good riddle if you're bored

nickeye
03-08-2002, 05:58 AM
These never go over well, but here's a good one from this month's Mensa bulletin:

A census taker goes to a woman's house and asks her how many children she has, and what their ages are. The woman says, "I have three children. The product of their ages is 72, and the sum of their ages equals the address of the house next door."

The census taker goes next door, looks at the address, then comes back and tells the woman, "You didn't give me enough information."

The woman replies, "My oldest child has a cat with a wooden leg."

The census taker says, "Thank you. I now have the information I need," and leaves.

What are the ages of each of the three children?

<center><img src="http://njpconsulting.homestead.com/files/dance.jpg" WIDTH=275 BORDER=2></center>
Hoojibs
03-08-2002, 06:29 AM
Okay, I think I got it. The children's ages are 8, 3 and 3?
Hoojibs
03-08-2002, 06:39 AM
Sorry, I made a mistake

The product is 72. Therefore the sum must be 17. So.... the ages must be 9 + 4 + 4
Hoojibs
03-08-2002, 06:39 AM
Sorry, I made a mistake

The product is 72. Therefore the sum must be 17. So.... the ages must be 9 + 4 + 4
Hosp
03-08-2002, 06:44 AM
Don't panic, the answer is 42.

<center>http://members.aol.com/mkalstott40/images/hosp%20krikor%20sig.jpg</center>
<b>K</b>araoke
<b>R</b>eally
<b>I</b>s
<b>K</b>illing
<b>O</b>ur
<b>R</b>elationships
wilee
03-08-2002, 07:08 AM
Hoojibs, you had it right the first time.

The product of the ages is 72. That means multiplying all the ages together will give you 72

There are two sets of numbers that when multiplied give you 72, but give you a sum of 14 (8x3x3 and 6x6x2). The census taker asked for more information, because either one could be the case. When the lady said "My oldest child" (The cat is irrelevent) it indicates that the ages are 8, 3 and 3. If it were 6, 6 and 2, she would have indicated that the older children are twins or something.

<IMG SRC="http://cwjr.home.infi.net/rocket.jpg">
wilee
03-08-2002, 07:15 AM
Also, the product of 9, 4 and 4 is 144, not 72. ;)

<IMG SRC="http://cwjr.home.infi.net/rocket.jpg">
Yerdaddy
03-08-2002, 08:46 AM
where did you get that the neighbor's address is 14?

<img src="http://yerdaddy.homestead.com/files/pics/babystaple.jpg" >
BILLY STAPLES FAN SINCE DAY ONE
Silly Puddy
03-08-2002, 09:00 AM
Wilee, you live up to your moniker. <P>
Yerdaddy, there are only 6 combinations of 3 numbers whose product equals 72: <P>
8 * 3 * 3 (sum = 14)
6 * 6 * 2 (sum = 14)
18*2 * 2 (sum = 22)
12*3 * 2 (sum = 17)
9 * 4 * 2 (sum = 15)
6 * 4 * 3 (sum = 13) <P>
Since there are 2 cases where the sum is 14, and only one case of the other sums, the census taker would know the ages if the sum of the ages was anything other that 14. Once you get this far, Wilee gave the rest of the solution. <P>
BTW, I didn't include cases where one of the kids is 0 years old, but the same answer would occur since those sums would be unique. <P>
<P>

I think, therefore I am..............a moron.

This message was edited by Silly Puddy on 3-8-02 @ 1:17 PM
TheGameHHH
03-08-2002, 01:47 PM
No wait, it's gotta be your bull. <P>


IT'S TIME TO PLAY THE GAME-AHHH!

<IMG SRC="http://wwfallon.homestead.com/files/RFnetTheGameHHH.jpg">
Thanks Fallon for the sig!
Knocked
03-08-2002, 02:30 PM
Don't panic, the answer is 42
LMFAO!

<img src="http://knocked.homestead.com/files/johnny1.jpg">
Seeya!
cheezeemee
03-08-2002, 05:45 PM
I just found this one:Pretend you are a bus driver for ten kids. You make three stops a day. On the first stop, 4 get off and 3 get on. On the second stop,5 get off and 2 get on.On the third and final stop, 8 get off. What color are the bus drivers eyes? <P>
<P>

<HTML>
<img src="http://members.hometown.aol.com/boogertaste/images/rfnetcheezeemee.jpg">
</HTML>
Thanks for the pic WWFallon!!
Ninja Lesbian
03-08-2002, 05:53 PM
I'm an idiot and i got this before i finished the problem: 6.4,3. What a retard riddle, the riddling riddler wouldn't use that......
<SMOKE BOMB>

Who wants jello!!!
Hoojibs
03-10-2002, 06:25 PM
If I'm the bus driver? The color of my eyes are brown.
wilee
03-14-2002, 12:38 PM
BTW, I didn't include cases where one of the kids is 0 years old, but the same answer would occur since those sums would be unique.Silly Puddy-

If one of the children were 0 years of age, then the product of their ages would be 0, not 72, so none of the kids could be 0....

Thanks for going a little more in depth with my explanation. I usually am too brief when I explain things... :)

<IMG SRC="http://cwjr.home.infi.net/rocket.jpg">