A census taker knocks on the door and a woman answers. She informs the census taker that she lives in her house with 3 sons. The woman informs him that the product of their ages equals 36 and the sum of their ages equals the address of the house next door. The census taker then looks at the address of the house next door and realizes he needs more information. After asking for another hint the woman tells him that only her oldest son was born on a leap year. How old are the three sons?

Question

A census taker knocks on the door and a woman answers.  She informs the census taker that she lives in her house with 3 sons.  The woman informs him that the product of their ages equals 36 and the sum of their ages equals the address of the house next door.  The census taker then looks at the address of the house next door and realizes he needs more information.  After asking for another hint the woman tells him that only her oldest son was born on a leap year.  How old are the three sons?

valpey · Answer

Ages       Sum

1,1,36      38
1,2,18     21
1,3,12     16
1,4,9       14
1,6,6        13
2,2,9       13
2,3,6         11
3,3,4          10

If the house next door is number 13, then the census taker isn't sure if the kids are 1,6, and 6 or 2,2, and 9. Once she says only the oldest was born on a leap year, we see that 2,2, and 9 makes sense.

anonymous · Answer

Thanks :D