How Old Are the Children?

Problem | Solution | Printable page |
Stage: 3 Challenge Level: Challenge Level:2 Challenge Level:2

A student in a maths class was trying to get some information from her teacher.

Sally : "How many chidren have you got, Mrs Smith?"
Mrs Smith: "Three"
Sally: "How old are they?"
Mrs Smith: "If you multiply their ages together, it comes to 72"
Sally: "That doesn't give us enough information, Mrs Smith"
Mrs Smith: "If you add the ages you get the number of this room"
Sally: "That still doesn't give us enough information, Mrs Smith"
Mrs Smith: "The youngest is called Amanda"
Sally: "Thank you. Now we know how old they are ! "

Well, how old are they?


Published February 2000.