The best maths puzzle ever!!

by PopeOfEruke 16 Replies latest social entertainment

  • LittleToe
    LittleToe

    Assuming whole years only, possible permutations are:

    • 1 + 1 + 36 = 38
    • 1 + 2 + 18 = 21
    • 1 + 3 + 12 = 16
    • 1 + 6 + 6 = 13
    • 2 + 2 + 9 =13
    • 2 + 3 + 6 = 11
    • 3 + 3 + 4 = 10

    As has been stated, the only way he would still need further clarification when given a house number would be if the sum of more than one of the permutations was the same. Even though that falls on thirteen, and its incredibly rare for a house to bear that number, it is the only alternative and possibly chosen to cause us to second guess our premises.

    The result is that we must have twins, but the fact that the eldest plays the piano would indicate that it must be clear that the eldest is identifiable from the riddle, because the numbers bear little relevance to piano plaing or musical scales. Hence I suspect the mention of the piano is to further throw us off the scent.

    My choice would thus be 2, 2, and 9.

  • Twitch
    Twitch

    Gotcha. Missed the point re duplicate sums for clue 2. And yes, 36,1,1 though improbable isn't impossible. ;-)

  • PopeOfEruke
    PopeOfEruke

    But didn't the Munsters live at 1313 Mockingbird Lane?

  • SirNose586
    SirNose586
    But didn't the Munsters live at 1313 Mockingbird Lane?

    Yes, they did. But that's what I thought made the address special--no one would have 1313 as a house number, much less 13.

  • Jeffro
    Jeffro

    SirNose586

    I thought, "Who builds houses with the number 13?"

    Um... people who live between number 11 and number 15???

  • LittleToe
    LittleToe

    I think I've seen only two #13s my whole life, including the years I spent as a Pioneer. They do exist, but are as rare as hen's teeth.

    The puzzle writer has a flair for devices to throw you off the scent!

  • Jeffro
    Jeffro

    I'm not sure what things are like in other countries, but in Australia, there is no absence of the number 13 in street numbering. Though some hotels don't have a 13th floor.

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