answer to the three generations problem

puzzle answer
the three generations problem
the grandson is about as many days old as the son is in weeks. the grandson is
approximately as many months old as the father is in years. the ages of the
grandson, the son, and the father add up to 120 years. what are their ages?
answer:
let g, s, and f represent the ages in years of the grandson, the son, and the
father, respectively. since a year has 365 days, or 52 weeks, or 12 months, the
problem can be represented by three equations with three unknowns:
365 g = 52 s (the grandson is about as many days old as the son is in weeks)
12 g = f (the grandson is approximately as many months old as the father is in
years)
g + s + f = 120 (the ages of the grandson, the son, and the father add up to 120
years)
because the grandson's age is g = f/12, the son's age can be represented in
terms of f by substituting:
s = (365/52)�G
s = (365/52)�(f/12)
the third equation can now be represented with only the father's age as an
unknown:
f/12 + (365/52)�(f/12) + f = 120
multiplying by 12, we get:
f + (365/52)�F + 12 f = 120�12
20 f = 1440
f = 72
g = f/12 = 6
s = (365/52)�6 = 42
the father is 72, the son is 42, and the grandson is 6 years old.

copyright 2004 - antonio zamora

www.scientificpsychic.com