Ask A Scientist Mathematics Archive

Question: I have got a math/logic teaser: A census taker goes to a house 
for some information.  The lady says she has 3 kids, and the product of their 
ages is 36.  The sum of their ages is equal to the address next door.  He goes 
and comes back for more information and she says the oldest one is asleep 
upstairs.  What are their ages?
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Make a list of all triplets of positive integers whose product is 
36.  By each triplet write its sum.  Do not forget that two kids could be 
twins!  Note that only two triplets have the same sum.  Since the census taker 
had to return for more information, the address next door must have been that 
sum.  I will let the reader take the final step in the solution!
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