[bonanova]

Zed: Hi, Ned! LTNS!

Ned: For sure. How are things?

Zed: Well for one thing, me and the missus have a family now.

Ned: No!

Zed: Yep, three rug rats.

Ned: Is one of them a girl?

Zed: I could tell you, Ned, but then I'd have to shoot you. That question is part of a different puzzle, OK?

Ned: Sorry. So, how old are they then?

Zed: Well, the product of their ages is 72.

Ned: You know that doesn't tell me their ages, Zed.

Zed: Well, their ages add up to the day of the month you were born.

Ned: C'mon Zed, you're leaving me in the dark, man!

Zed: Well since you asked, the youngest is in fact a girl.

Ned: Thanks. Now I know their ages.

Was Ned telling the truth?

[Guest]

Here is my best guess, Yes.

If you take 72 and factorize it, you will get the numbers; 2,2,2,3,3.

That means, the ages can be as follows:

2,2,18

2,3,12

2,4,9

2,6,6

3,3,8

3,4,6

Since Zed said he couldn't figure out after knowing that the sum of it. That means there had to be 2 or more options. It happens to be that the only sum is 14 which happens twice.

One was: 2,6,6 and the other was 3,3,8.

Since both group has two the same age, and Ned said girl in a singular manner it meant 2,6,6 were the ages.

[bonanova]

Here is my best guess, Yes.

If you take 72 and factorize it, you will get the numbers; 2,2,2,3,3.

That means, the ages can be as follows:

2,2,18

2,3,12

2,4,9

2,6,6

3,3,8

3,4,6

Since Zed said he couldn't figure out after knowing that the sum of it. That means there had to be 2 or more options. It happens to be that the only sum is 14 which happens twice.

One was: 2,6,6 and the other was 3,3,8.

Since both group has two the same age, and Ned said girl in a singular manner it meant 2,6,6 were the ages.

... 1 is a valid age?

Does that affect your answer?

[Guest]

... 1 is a valid age?

Does that affect your answer?

No.

Reasoning:

1,2,36

1,3,24

1,4,18

1,6,12

1,8,9

None of which add to the current pair of sums, or which add to make a new pair of sums.

Edited February 6, 2008 by PolishNorbi

[bonanova]

No.

Reasoning:

1,2,36

1,3,24

1,4,18

1,6,12

1,8,9

None of which add to the current pair of sums, or which add to make a new pair of sums.

1 1 72

But pity the poor mother who birthed those twins at the age of 90!

Nice job!

[Guest]

Nice job!

1 1 72

But pity the poor mother who birthed those twins at the age of 90!

Actually,

I intenionally left out 1,1,72 and I should have left out 1,2,36 because they are over 31 which would break the other rule.

Thank you though

[bonanova]

Touche! You're right.

And the 90-year old wife is sighing relief!