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The birthday coincidence


bonanova
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I remarked to a friend how surprised I was to learn that as few as 23 randomly chosen people give better than even odds of a shared birthday. She agreed, saying three of her friends shared her birthday. The product of their ages is 2450 cubic years, she said, and their sum, remarkably, is twice your age [meaning mine.] It was a statement, to be sure, but I knew from the twinkle in her eye it was also a challenge.

I scribbled on the back of an envelope for a moment. Well? she smiled, got you stumped? In fact I could not answer. I'm afraid I need another clue. OK, she said, I am older than any of the three, and my age is equal to the product of the ages of the two youngest.

Triumphantly I announced the ages of her three friends.

p.s. That's a challenge. ;)

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Are we using your age as shown on your profile page (72)?

No, Sherlock, ;) but great investigative reporting!

Oh that makes things different. In that case I think there are several solutions.

Actually, what was the point in saying that it is twice your age? All it tells us is that the sum is even, but we already know this as any 3 numbers formed from the prime factorisation of 2450 sum to be even.

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Are we using your age as shown on your profile page (72)?

No, Sherlock, ;) but great investigative reporting!
Oh that makes things different. In that case I think there are several solutions.

Actually, what was the point in saying that it is twice your age? All it tells us is that the sum is even, but we already know this as any 3 numbers formed from the prime factorisation of 2450 sum to be even.

Your statement is correct.

Your question is valid.

But since you don't yet have a unique answer, it's your question to answer.

Btw, no offense intended by the Sherlock comment. :)

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Are we using your age as shown on your profile page (72)?

No, Sherlock, ;) but great investigative reporting!
Oh that makes things different. In that case I think there are several solutions.

Actually, what was the point in saying that it is twice your age? All it tells us is that the sum is even, but we already know this as any 3 numbers formed from the prime factorisation of 2450 sum to be even.

Your statement is correct.

Your question is valid.

But since you don't yet have a unique answer, it's your question to answer.

Btw, no offense intended by the Sherlock comment. :)

None taken.

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