Question 107280: Two Russian mathematicians meet on a plane.
“If I remember correctly, you have three sons,” says Ivan. “What are their ages today?”
“The product of their ages is thirty-six,” says Igor, “and the sum of their ages is exactly today’s date.”
“I’m sorry, Igor,” Ivan says after a minute, “but that doesn’t tell me the ages of your boys.”
“Oh, I forgot to tell you, my youngest son has red hair.”
“Ah, now it’s clear,” Ivan says. “I now know exactly how old your three sons are.”
How did Ivan figure out the ages?
Answer by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740)   (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website! Two Russian mathematicians meet on a plane.
“If I remember correctly, you have three sons,” says Ivan. “What are their ages today?”
“The product of their ages is thirty-six,” says Igor, “and the sum of their ages is exactly today’s date.”
“I’m sorry, Igor,” Ivan says after a minute, “but that doesn’t tell me the ages of your boys.”
“Oh, I forgot to tell you, my youngest son has red hair.”
“Ah, now it’s clear,” Ivan says. “I now know exactly how old your three sons are.”
How did Ivan figure out the ages?
:
I am going guess that Ivan knew a couple things that they didn't tell us:
1. The day of the month is the 13th
2. Two of the 3 brothers are twins
:
That could make the boys ages (which add up to 13):
6, 6, 1
2, 2, 9
:
When he said the youngest had red hair. that made the older ones the twins and confined the answer to:
6, 6, 1
:
This is just a guess, there may be other solutions.
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