SOLUTION: The combined age of 3 brothers is 78. The oldest brother is 26. How old is the middle and youngest brother?

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Question 1197387: The combined age of 3 brothers is 78. The oldest brother is 26. How old is the middle and youngest brother?
Found 2 solutions by ikleyn, math_tutor2020:
Answer by ikleyn(52803)   (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
.

26*3 = 78.


Combined with the info that the oldest brother is 26, it is just    to conclude that

      +--------------------------------------------+
      |     all three of them are 26 years old     |
      |    in this joking entertainment problem.   |
      +--------------------------------------------+


The proof is OBVIOUS: had at least one of the other two be younger than 26, the combined age would not be 78.



    Nevertheless, although (and despite) they all have the same age, expressed in years, 
         their mother and, hence, the brothers themselves, as well as their 
           relatives around know who of the three brothers is the oldest.

Completed.

It is really first class entertainment problem,  when a true connoisseur
will laugh  10  minutes after learning a solution.



Answer by math_tutor2020(3817)   (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!

Not enough information. The best we can say is
x+y+26 = 78
where,
x = youngest brother's age
y = middle brother's age

x and y are less than 26, and x < y
In other words 0 < x < y < 26
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