Puzzle#7 Solution

Question:

Alok has three daughters. His friend Shyam wants to know the ages of his daughters. Alok gives him the first hint.
1) The product of their ages is 72.

Shyam says this is not enough information Alok gives him a second hint.

2) The sum of their ages is equal to my house number.

Shyam goes out and look at the house number and tells “I still do not have enough information to determine the ages”.

Alok admits that Shyam can not guess and gives him the third hint

3) The oldest of the girls like strawberry ice-cream.

Shyam is able to guess after the third hint. Can you guess what are the ages of three daughters?

Answer:

1) Product of ages is 72

Below are all possibilities to get 72 from the product of three different ages:

1 * 1 * 72 = 72

1 * 2 * 36 = 72

1 * 3 * 24 = 72

1 * 4 * 18 = 72

1 * 6 * 12 = 72

1 * 8 * 9 = 72

2 * 2 * 18 = 72

2 * 3 * 12 = 72

2 * 4 * 9 = 72

2 * 6 * 6 = 72

3 * 3 * 8 = 72

3 * 4 * 6 = 72

2) Sum of the ages is given

1 + 1 + 72 = 74

1 + 2 + 36 = 39

1 + 3 + 24 = 28

1 + 4 + 18 = 23

1 + 6 + 12 = 19

1 + 8 + 9 = 18

2 + 2 + 18 = 22

2 + 3 + 12 = 17

2 + 4 + 9 = 15

2 + 6 + 6 = 14

3 + 3 + 8 = 14

3 + 4 + 6 = 13

All sums are unique except 14. So the age sum must have been 14, otherwise, Shyam would have guessed the ages from hint 1 only.

So we have two possible combinations to get sum 14

2 + 6 + 6 = 14

3 + 3 + 8 = 14

3) Alok has the oldest girl (not two!!). So the ages must be 3, 3 and 8.