“None are so old as those who have outlived enthusiasm.” – Henry David Thoreau
One of the great things about math puzzles is that they serve a wide range of ages. Curiousity and persistence are common denominators for math puzzle enthusiasts. Here are some age puzzles. In each puzzle, arithmetic details are provided about the relative ages of the characters. Using this information, you (the puzzler) must determine their ages. I really like these problems, as they serve as a good introduction to word problems. They can be solved using algebra, via cunning or with brute force. Best of luck.
Puzzle #1: Alex is 3 times the age of his brother Sammy. In 3 years, Alex will be twice the age of Sammy. How old are both boys now?
Puzzle #2: Emily is older than her sister Beth. In 3 years adding their ages will give you the same number as multiplying their ages today. What are their ages now?
Puzzle #3: Gertrude has three kids. If you multiply their ages, you get 36. However, if you sum their ages, you can not determine what their ages are with certainty. But, if you know that the oldest is at least one year older than the other two, you can deduce their ages. What are the three ages?
I hope you enjoyed the puzzles. Please share these puzzles and feel free to contact me or comment.
