A family has three children. Two of them are twins. The only information that you have is that the product (multiply) of the three ages is 36. You are to find the ages of the three children if the the twins are the oldest. (There is only one answer)
What could the ages of the three children be if the twins are the youngest? (There are 3 possible answers)
2006-10-31 20:56:43 · 6 answers · asked by Mrs Crystal Lord 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Mathematics
If you can figure out the answer which i have no clue of. I will give 10 points.
2006-10-31 20:57:30 · update #1
If the twins are older then they are 6 the younger sibling is 1.
If the twins are younger 2-9, 3-4, 1-36.
Which means the twins are 2 and the older sibling is 9
OR
the twins are 3 and the older sibling is 4
OR
the twins are 1 and the older sibling is 36
2006-10-31 21:01:55 · answer #1 · answered by feanor 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Since the product of ages of the children is 36 which is whole no. then the ages of children are also whole no.
Now take the case whereTwins are younger.
In this case the product of age of the twins has to be a factor of 36 and that factor has to be perfect square.
The factors of 36 are 1,2,3,4,6,9,12 and 18. From these the possible nos. are 1,4 and 9. So the age of the twins can be 1, 2 or 3. Accordingly the age of the elder child can be 36,9 or 4.
i.e. the combinations are (1,1,36) , (2,2,9) and (3,3,4)
Now if the twins are older then product of square of any of the above nos and the other no. from the above should be equal to 36. In this case we find that there is only one such solutrion. i.e. twins are 6 years old and the other child is 1 year old. So the solution is (6,6,1)
From the above solution mathematically obtained the solution of (1,1,36) cannot be logically treated as solution since we term a 36 year old person not as child.
So the three possible solutions are (6,6,1) , (2,2,9) and (3,3,4)
Hope this answers you and I can claim 10 points from you!!!!!
2006-11-01 06:15:15 · answer #2 · answered by Manindomb 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
x^2*y=36. you have do divide 36 in such a way that x^2 will be a perfect square to get x. so the perfect squares less than or equal to 36 are 1,4,9,16,36. x^2 can be 1,4,9,36. it cannot be 16 because then y would have to be a fraction. so x can be 1,2,3,6. and y would be 36,9,4,1. there for twins=1 sibling=36. for twins = 2 sibling=9. for twins = 3 sibling = 4 and for twins = 6 sibling = 1.
2006-11-01 05:41:20 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
the second answer to the children ages are 3*3*4=36
that is the max age the children can be if they are younger than the third child
so they can be for the twins is 3 yrs each while the third child is 4 yrs
or 2yrs for each twin and 9 yrs for the third child
or
1yr each twin and 36 yrs for the third child
BUT:
If the two twins are older than the third child the their ages can be 4ys each for the twins and 2 and a quater for the third child
but that creates a fraction. in the third childs age
so one answer for the first question is 4*4*2.25=36
so the third child will have lived three months more of two years
that must be correct!!!
2006-11-01 05:40:18 · answer #4 · answered by mich01 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The twins are 9 years old, and the other child is 2 years old
9*9*2=36
2006-11-01 05:06:02 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
twins are 6 years old and sibling is 1 if the twins are oldest.
twins are 3 years old and sibling is 4 if twins are youngest
2006-11-01 05:21:10 · answer #6 · answered by kevin_4508 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋