62 replies to this topic

[genevadad]

Consider the possibility that two of the children are 6, they're nearly identical twins but the slightly older one (a minute or two older) wears a red hat so that Peter can tell them apart. The third child is one. And Peter and Thomas have each drunk a 6-pack. So, 6 x 6 x 1 works.

[laurenm_21]

OK, so then it's 6-6-1?
6*6*1=36
6+6+1=13
And the oldest child wears a red hat to distinguish himself from his twin, no?

[jiayueliu]

wat about the number of beers?

[mathemagister]

True. The number of beers only work if you think of their ages logically and not being a couple of minutes different.

[robadob]

I dont understand something,
If me and a sibling were both six what would stop one of us wearing a red hat and one of us wearing a different coloured hat or no hat at all?

[mathemagister]

robadob:

In the riddle it says:
"OK, the last thing is that my oldest child wears a red hat."

Now, if you and your sibling were both 6, if your father said this, it doesn't make sense as there are two oldest children. This last statement points out that there is only one "oldest".

[saurabh_tnk]

Answer must be 2 2 and 9

[sanjay_kv]

Possible combinations for the age of the children are:
(4,3,3), (9,2,2), (9,4,1), (6,6,1), (12,3,1), (18,2,1), (36,1,1), (6,3,2)

Now, the hint is sum of the ages is being told and correct ages can't be guessed. So, the possible choices left are:
(9,2,2), (6,6,1).

Now, the hint is oldest is wearing a Red hat. So, the only answer left is:
(9,2,2)
which is our answer.

[Axilla]

It took me a sec, but I understand the need for the sum's to be unique. Without them being unique the last parameter would be obsolete or another would have to be there to replace it.
Great puzzle!

-Axilla

[Smacky]

"- The sum of their ages is exactly the number of beers we have drunk today.
- That is still not enough."

When Peter says "That is still not enough" in reply to Thomas's statement. He is assuming that a couple of them are twins(Which as profound as it may sound is just an assumption).
i still have my doubts for what made him conclude that they're twins, for, they don't have to be.
why cant they be a 9-4-1 or 2-3-6 or 4-3-3 (in case they are twins)?