Greek Mathematician's Age
Here is an epitaph of the celebrated Greek mathematician of 250 A.D., Diophantus.
Diophantus passed one sixth of his life in childhood,
one twelfth in youth, and one seventh more as a bachelor;
five years after his marriage, a son was born,
who died four years before his father at half his final age.
Can you calculate Diophantus age from this?
one twelfth in youth, and one seventh more as a bachelor;
five years after his marriage, a son was born,
who died four years before his father at half his final age.
Can you calculate Diophantus age from this?
Labels: logic, mathemagic
posted by Rajesh Lal at
8:35 AM
10 Comments:
Diophantus was 84 years old at the time of his death.
1/6 plus 1/12 plus 1/7 = 33/84 at the time of his marriage.
Let L equal the length of D's life in years. Then
L = (L - (33/84L + 5)-4) x 2
L = 2L - 66/84L -10 -8
L = 1 18/84L -18
-18/84L = -18
L = 84
age at marriage = 1/6 + 1/12 + 1/7 = 11/28x (let x = age of Diophantus at death)
age at son's birth = 11/28x + 5
age at death = 11/28x + 5 + 1/2x [this was the age of his son when he died] + 4 [he lived 4 more years after his son's death]
i.e. 25/28x + 9 = x
therefore x = 84
married at 33
son born at 38
son died at 80 (son was 42)
age at death = 84
1/6= childhood
1/12= youth
1/7= bachelor
Age at marriage=1/6+1/12+1/7
M=1/6+1/12+1/7
M=14/84+7/84+12/84
M=33/84
Married at 33
Died at 84
Son born at 38
Died 4 years later at 42
Son died at 42
Dad died at 84
42/84=1/2 age at final year of life.
I know others got it before me, but I just like doing the work.
What does "died four years before his father at half his final age" mean?
let X equal the mans age
Sons age = (1/2)X-4
I agree with all the above. Except,
his bones are now 1,758 years old.
aha ! all the mathematicians
This answer can never be found as you do not know th final age of the son.
Its in the bell boys pocket!
Duh!
come on people its so easy
And the bus drivers name is Bill.
ANSWER 84
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married at 33
son born at 38
son died at 80 (son was 42)
age at death = 84
GOT RIGHT
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Black Knight, Joe, and mitchs
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