The Family's Age
One member of a family of three was celebrating a birthday. The boy asked a question about the ages of his parents. His father replied:
"Our three ages combined amount to seventy years. As I am just six times as old as you are now, it may be said that when I am but twice as old as you, our three combined ages will be twice what they are at present. Can you tell me your mother's age?"
How old is the boy's mother?
"Our three ages combined amount to seventy years. As I am just six times as old as you are now, it may be said that when I am but twice as old as you, our three combined ages will be twice what they are at present. Can you tell me your mother's age?"
How old is the boy's mother?
posted by Zaux at
10:19 PM
9 Comments:
Mummy is 29yrs and 2 months, Daddy is 34yrs and 11 months with the little bratling coming in at 5yrs and 10 months.
Sorry, that's wrong.... back to the chalk board.
Karl, I got the same as you for mother and son, with the father coming in at exactly 35.
F + M + S = 70
F + M + S + 3x = 140
F = 6*S
F + x = 2(S + x)
Since I'm lazy, I just plugged this system of 4 equations in 4 unknowns into wxMaxima. It replied
F = 35
M = 175/6 = 29yr 2 mon
S = 35/6 = 5 yr 5 mon
x = 70/3 = 23 yr 4 mon
The father was the one celebrating his birthday.
I've just looked at my calculations again, and I believe I have foolishly copied the wrong line down - 35yrs with Daddy as the birthday boy!
I have duly clipped the back of my head and told myself to buck up my ideas.
Ross, your link to wxMaxima don't go there. Is it correct?
Also 35/6 = 5yrs and 10 months. I got the same equations/answers running it through Wolfram Alpha.
Originally I had written a little prog for base 12 equations, but it's ever so clunky...
The WIZ was first with the correct ages ... he wins a weekend with the faimly baby-sitting the little one :)
I would hate to have a dad like that! lol :D X
Oops and oops.
http://maxima.sourceforge.net
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