Children age riddle

gjjh25 · New Member Joined: 18 Mar 2009 Posts: 3

Does anyone know the answer to this?

A man called on Mrs MacPhee one day. He enquired if she had any children, and if so what their ages were. She answered that she would give him the facts.
“I have three kids,” she said. “And the sum of their ages comes to 13.”
“Not enough information,” said the man.
“The product of their ages comes to the same number as this house.”
Again, the man shook his head.
“The eldest son is upstairs asleep.”
With that, the man smiled and said he now knew the ages of the three kids.
What are the ages of the kids?

Caerne · New Member Joined: 23 Mar 2009 Posts: 3

age 2, age 2 and age 9.

The key in the riddle is: My eldest son is asleep.
Let me explain:

We know 3 things:
Age1+Age2+Age3=13
Age1*Age2*Age3=house number
"The eldest son is the clue"

If we write all options out:
kid aged 1, 1 and 11 etc. we find two options for which ages sum to 13 and ages multiplied come to a same answer:
Options:
1) kids age 1, 6 and 6:
1+6+6=13
1*6*6=36

2) kids age 2, 2 and 9:
2+2+9=13
2*2*9=36

She said the eldest son is upstairs asleep.
So he isn't part of a twin.
Meaning you come to option two.

gjjh25 · New Member Joined: 18 Mar 2009 Posts: 3

Thank you very much for this

Vertabladehot2m · Guy Who Loves This Site Joined: 10 Nov 2006 Posts: 212

that was pretty pro. kudos