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Cambridge Chat (previously New Cambridge Students Entry 2004)

Willa

and camford...you're doing compsci and not taking a computer!!!???

I know, I'm not taking it with me during the first week that's for sure. If I can get by without my pc, then probably won't take it to Cam for Michaelmas term this year. My parents think I could get by. But I reckon I can't live without my beloved PC.

Reply 4381

Poc ar buile

Squishy

Here's a puzzle my Physics teacher gave us a long time ago:

"Someone once challenged me to work out the ages of his three children. As a rather strange coincidence, all of his children had the same birthday, although not all in the same year. He was quite proud of this fact. He gave me three clues and said I would need all of them to work it out, but that he need not give me any further information:

Clue 1: The product of my children's ages is 36
Clue 2: The sum of their ages is equal to the door number of the house opposite mine
Clue 3: My eldest child is learning the piano"

I'm not planning on taking a TV...I really don't think I'll have much time to watch it, but there are TV rooms around the place.

Possible answers -

18, 2, 1
9, 4, 1
9, 2, 2
6, 3, 2
4, 3, 3

All different ages => not 4, 3, 3 nor 9, 2, 2

Three possible sums are 21, 14 and 11

I see no reason why one is more likely than another. 18, 9 and 6 year olds could learn piano and I have no idea what his house number is. I was thinking 21, 12/14, 41 but not 11 (not possible other way round (but nothing implies this is what he meant). I was also thinking mine, nine, other way round being 6 but that is not a possible sum...

What is it Squishy?

I'm also not bringing a TV. The damn internet is enough of a drain on my time! :smile:

Reply 4382

Squishy

11

Willa

squishy does that question have a definite answer!

Yeah, it does. I couldn't believe it at first, but it does. The reasoning's quite subtle though.

I want to see a hat being eaten! You can have my sombrero if you want.

Reply 4383

fishpaste

Squishy

I want to see a hat being eaten! You can have my sombrero if you want.

Your offer is kind but an entire sombrero? :frown:

my poor tummy.

Reply 4384

MadNatSci

12

polthegael

All different ages => not 4, 3, 3 nor 9, 2, 2

Nuh-uh - he said not all in the same year, not that they all had different ages. So there could be twins.

Drat, a maths teacher of mine told me the answer to this once and I can't remember it!

Reply 4385

visesh

17

Willa

could have twins! (then you can have repeated roots)

They're not born in the same year though.

Reply 4386

Poc ar buile

I think I have a possible answer...

All same birthdays. Pregnancy lasts 9 months. His wife was unlikely to be able/willing to have sex with pregnancy as an outcome three months after giving birth.

This writes 18, 2, 1 and 6, 3, 2 out. This leaves 9, 4, 1

The problem with this is that it means the door number and the piano thing are irrelevant and that is unlikely..

Reply 4387

Poc ar buile

MadNatSci

Nuh-uh - he said not all in the same year, not that they all had different ages. So there could be twins.

Drat, a maths teacher of mine told me the answer to this once and I can't remember it!

Does this not condradict itself?

Twins are born in the same year!

Reply 4388

Willa

11

polthegael

I think I have a possible answer...

All same birthdays. Pregnancy lasts 9 months. His wife was unlikely to be able/willing to have sex with pregnancy as an outcome three months after giving birth.

This writes 18, 2, 1 and 6, 3, 2 out. This leaves 9, 4, 1

The problem with this is that it means the door number and the piano thing are irrelevant and that is unlikely..

how does it write that out!? Baby is Born.....wait 3 months...has sex...next baby is born on same day....works fine!

Reply 4389

fishpaste

houses are more commonly even numbered aren't they? that would get rid of 14/21. but it's a very rubbish reason really.

Reply 4390

MadNatSci

12

polthegael

Does this not condradict itself?

Twins are born in the same year!

Yeah but NOT ALL does not mean the same as ALL NOT - if you get my drift!

Reply 4391

visesh

17

fishpaste

houses are more commonly even numbered aren't they?

How so?

Reply 4392

Willa

11

i fail to see how Clue 2 can be used at all....it's completely useless since you dont know this guy's door number!

Reply 4393

fishpaste

visesh

How so?

Is this just where I live? I don't know any streets where the numbers don't go

2..4..6..8..

Reply 4394

Poc ar buile

Willa

how does it write that out!? Baby is Born.....wait 3 months...has sex...next baby is born on same day....works fine!

The woman has to wait until her hormone levels are back in sync after child birth before starting up a regular menstral cycle again. It would also, I'd guess, be quite painful that soon after chidbirth!

My reasoning is not sound (nor is it even reasoning at all!) but I think it's a more likely answer than the even number hypothesis beneath my last post.

Reply 4395

fishpaste

Willa

i fail to see how Clue 2 can be used at all....it's completely useless since you dont know this guy's door number!

Probably something to do with it being opposite meaning it's divisible by something or similar. You've got to be able to deduce something about the number by the fact the house is opposite, and the numbers will be spaced out regularlarly, whether that's 1..2..3... or 2...4..6