Help with this question

In my opinion, this is not a math question, at least not a purely math question, because there is, indeed, not enough information. The only relevant fact I can see is that the product of their ages is 72. Even if we knew the house number, it would still not be enough information to solve for 3 variables.

I think you can also assume that they have positive integer ages, which could potentially be used to solve for a third variable under some circumstances, if you knew the house number.

Wait a minute... The census taker has just visited a farmer. Therefore the house has no number, at least he has no neighbours.

If the house has no number, then... there can't be three daughters.

Something's very wrong with this question. Where'd you find it?

The chocolate-loving oldest daughter is seventy-two with her younger siblings being one-year-old twins.

But it could also be one 12 year-old daughter, one 6 year-old daughter and one 1 year-old daughter with a house number of 19.

Or one 12 year-old daughter, one 3-year old daughter and one 2-year old daughter with a house number of 17.

Or one 24 year-old daughter, one 3 year-old daughter and one 1year-old daughter with a house number of 28.

Curiously, enough though a Google search of:



Comes up with plenty of pages, the third one of which actually gives you the solution to the problem. This shows that someone here is being very, very lazy.

No,No.No.

The youngest is one. The next is two and the third is 36 which is just about the time they get self indulgent and start eating chocolate to try to reduce the aching pangs.

Any other numbers are daft because twins at 1 make the 3rd 72 and at 2 make her 18 and census takers are much more likely to knock on the doors of barmy farmers who have 36 year old chocolate scoffers still on their hands than they are on barmy farmer's doors who still have hopes of their daughter's prospects due to the general appearance and other unfortunate dispositions which census takers are prone to.

They obviously live at No39 Highway 61.

Have you not read Madame Bovary?