How Old Are Your Kids? A Park Conversation

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In summary, two men were sitting in a park and one of the men asked the other man if he had any kids and the other man said that he did, and that they were both sons. The first man asked about their school and the other man said that they weren't going there yet, but that they were both 1 and 4 years old. The first man then asked about their ages and the other man said that their ages product was equal to numbers of pigeons over there. The first man then said that that wasn't enough and the second man said that he had it and that the youngest looked more like his mom. There was no solution to the product of ages, but from this
  • #1
whatta
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I have applied my supreme translation skills but it still can be somewhat bad english. Any way, here it goes.

So, there were 2 men sitting in a park.
- So, got any kids?
- Two sons.
- Which school are they in?
- They aren't going there yet.
- So, how old are they?
- Their ages product is equal to numbers of pigeons over there.
- That's not enough.
- Oh... youngest looks more like his mom.
- Ooookay, I've got it.

Additional info: in Russia, children go to school at 7.
 
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  • #2
Answer is hidden:

If there were no pigeons, the conversation would have gone differently so both kids are at least 1 year old.
The only ambiguous products of the numbers from 1 to 6 are 4, 6, and 12:
4 = 1 x 4 and 2 x 2
6 = 1 x 6 and 2 x 3
12 = 2 x 6 and 3 x 4
Of these, the only one that is disambiguated by knowing that the two ages are not equal is 4. The kids are 1 and 4 years old.

eom
 
  • #3
jimmysnyder said:
Answer is hidden
...though it's not so hidden in email
 
  • #4
whatta said:
...though it's not so hidden in email
I don't understand, I didn't send an e-mail. Anyone can 'unhide' the text by dragging the cursor over it.
 
  • #5
if someone subscribes to this (any) thread, and then another person posts "hidden" answer, an email is sent to 1st person with message copy, where answer is no longer hidden, and so 1st person has no option to ignore it. not that it's much of a problem, but I thought I'd point it out.
 
  • #6
I see. This is a weakness in the mail transcription process. The point of the hidden text is so that anyone who doesn't want to be told the answer can more easily avoid reading it. If such a person subscribes, then they should use the e-mail as a kind of wake-up call, but should not read the contents of the message. In the case when the poser of the brain-teaser has subscribed, I expect no desire to avoid reading the proposed solutions.
 
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  • #7
The most important thing in this problem: a Russian did get the solution. I can see only possibilities but not an answer.



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  • #8
There must be more than 1 pigeon, but less than 49.

This leaves several possible solutions for the product of ages:

1 x 2
3 x 1
4 x 1
5 x 1
6 x 1

2 x 2
2 x 3
2 x 4
2 x 5
2 x 6

3 x 3
3 x 4
3 x 5
3 x 6

4 x 4
4 x 5
4 x 6

5 x 5
5 x 6

6 x 6Assuming the 2 boys are not the same age, gives these solutions:

1 x 2
3 x 1
4 x 1
5 x 1
6 x 1

2 x 3
2 x 4
2 x 5
2 x 6

3 x 4
3 x 5
3 x 6

4 x 5
4 x 6

5 x 6There is NO solution. (But from this, I can say the maximum number of pigeons is 30).
 
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  • #9
Scarecrow, this bit of information "- Oh... youngest looks more like his mom.
- Ooookay, I've got it." let's you know you are looking for a perfect square that only has two factors aside from its root.
 
  • #10
What makes you think you can extract that information from that line? Just wondering.
 
  • #11
The man asking the questions was obviously hesitating between two possibilities: either the kids have the same age, or one is older than the other. As soon as he learns that there's a difference, he is able to know which possibility is the right one. The number of pigeon is hence a perfect square; had it not been so, the revelation of an age difference wouldn't be of any use. This said, the perfect square we are looking for only has two other factors aside from its root: or else the revelation of an age difference wouldn't be enough information.
 
  • #12
Nice. :approve:
 
  • #13
Maybe the boys are 1 and 4 years old
 

FAQ: How Old Are Your Kids? A Park Conversation

What Are the Ages of My Kids?

As a scientist, I have come across various questions regarding the ages of children. Here are the top 5 most frequently asked questions and their answers:

1. How do I determine the age of my child?

The simplest way to determine the age of your child is by counting the number of years since their birth. You can also use their date of birth to calculate their age. Age can also be measured in months or weeks for younger children.

2. Why is knowing the age of my child important?

Knowing the age of your child is important for several reasons. It helps in tracking their developmental milestones, identifying appropriate activities and education for their age group, and ensuring they receive necessary vaccinations and medical care.

3. Can I use a child's height or weight to determine their age?

No, height and weight are not reliable indicators of a child's age. These factors can vary greatly among children of the same age due to genetic and environmental factors.

4. How do I find out the exact age of my adopted child?

If your adopted child's age is unknown, you can consult with a pediatrician to evaluate their physical and cognitive development and estimate their age. Dental and bone X-rays can also provide clues to determine their age.

5. Is there a difference between chronological age and developmental age?

Yes, there is a difference between chronological age, which is the number of years since birth, and developmental age, which is the level of physical, cognitive, and emotional development of a child. A child's developmental age can vary from their chronological age due to individual differences in growth and development.

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