Intelligence Test
The puzzle was solved a couple days ago by 123, and for those who want a more detailed explanation, it is posted on this page beyond 123's reply. For those who do not know baseball, yet want to try the puzzle, each baseball team requires 9 players.
Dorothy, a bright computer science major, pulled up to the professor's house on Winchester Drive. She checked the address and walked up to the door. The professor was having a get together for his students, and promptly let her in. "Come in, we were just getting started on a puzzle," commented the professor. Dorothy stepped inside and greeted her fellow students.
The professor began. "My brother, sister and cousin are also here today, and our children are playing in the back yard. They prefer baseball, but together there are not enough kids for two teams. I have more children than my brother, who has more than my sister. My cousin has fewest of all. There is something interesting about the number of kids in each family. If you multiply the numbers together, it gives our house number."
The professor paused, then said, "I have a prize for the one who can first figure out how many kids we each have." The students went to work on the puzzle, and the professor added, "I'll give you a hint if you need it." Dorothy was the first to approach the professor, and asked, "Would you tell us the number of children in your cousin's family?" The professor nodded and gave the whole class this information. Dorothy was first with the correct answer to the puzzle, and she won the prize.
What was Dorothy's answer?
[ 02-02-2003: Message edited by: snoopy ]</p>
Dorothy, a bright computer science major, pulled up to the professor's house on Winchester Drive. She checked the address and walked up to the door. The professor was having a get together for his students, and promptly let her in. "Come in, we were just getting started on a puzzle," commented the professor. Dorothy stepped inside and greeted her fellow students.
The professor began. "My brother, sister and cousin are also here today, and our children are playing in the back yard. They prefer baseball, but together there are not enough kids for two teams. I have more children than my brother, who has more than my sister. My cousin has fewest of all. There is something interesting about the number of kids in each family. If you multiply the numbers together, it gives our house number."
The professor paused, then said, "I have a prize for the one who can first figure out how many kids we each have." The students went to work on the puzzle, and the professor added, "I'll give you a hint if you need it." Dorothy was the first to approach the professor, and asked, "Would you tell us the number of children in your cousin's family?" The professor nodded and gave the whole class this information. Dorothy was first with the correct answer to the puzzle, and she won the prize.
What was Dorothy's answer?
[ 02-02-2003: Message edited by: snoopy ]</p>
Comments
a x b x c x d = e
we know (a+b+c+d) < 18. (9 people min per baseball team; 1 per base, plus pitcher, and 3 fielders, and the short stop).
d = 1 (cos' children).
so, a (no. my children), b (no. bro's children), c (no. sis' children) are still up in the air.
all we know is their relativity. a > b > c.
maybe i'm missing something, or approaching this wrong though. i'd say its unsolveable.
There are 18 people on 2 baseball teams, so we know there must be 17 or fewer people there. We know there are 4 adults, so there must be 13 or fewer children. He said that each family was smaller than the former, so there are no equal numbers of kids and we know there's one child in exactly one family. That leaves 12 to work with. 5,3,2,1 would work, 5,4,2,1 would, and so would 4,3,2,1. Maybe I'm missing something?
My guess would be it's unanswerable.
edit: I was typing my response while thuh freak was posting, so I didn't cheat.
[ 01-31-2003: Message edited by: torifile ]</p>
In regards to the above post, are we supposed to include the number of adults when considering the total people in respect to the baseball teams?
<strong>I think it may be solvable if we are given the house number (which Dorothy was).
In regards to the above post, are we supposed to include the number of adults when considering the total people in respect to the baseball teams?</strong><hr></blockquote>
The way I read it, it said that they - referring to all the people previously mentioned - prefer baseball. It didn't specifically say "the kids prefer baseball." I guess I'm assuming, but either way we don't have enough info.
<strong>I don't know.
There are 18 people on 2 baseball teams, so we know there must be 17 or fewer people there. We know there are 4 adults, so there must be 13 or fewer children. He said that each family was smaller than the former, so there are no equal numbers of kids and we know there's one child in exactly one family. That leaves 12 to work with. 5,3,2,1 would work, 5,4,2,1 would, and so would 4,3,2,1. Maybe I'm missing something?
My guess would be it's unanswerable.
edit: I was typing my response while thuh freak was posting, so I didn't cheat.
[ 01-31-2003: Message edited by: torifile ]</strong><hr></blockquote>
what about 5,4,3,1?
<strong>I think it may be solvable if we are given the house number (which Dorothy was).
In regards to the above post, are we supposed to include the number of adults when considering the total people in respect to the baseball teams?</strong><hr></blockquote>
the way it was phrased seems to separate them, to me. the professor said the children are playing in the backyard, and doesn't seem to imply that the parents are with them.
<strong>
what about 5,4,3,1?</strong><hr></blockquote>
I thought about it for a second after I posted and made a change.
<strong>
In regards to the above post, are we supposed to include the number of adults when considering the total people in respect to the baseball teams?</strong><hr></blockquote>
Just count the kids. There are not enough kids for two teams.
<strong>
Just count the kids. There are not enough kids for two teams.</strong><hr></blockquote>
That makes it even more unsolvable. The only way we could (I think) is to have the house number.
Sister's Family: 2
Brother's Family: 3
"My" Family: 5
This assumes e (house number) = 30, based on the reference to "Winchester Drive" and Dorothy being a bright computer science major.
1 * 2 * 3 * 5 = 30
1 + 2 + 3 + 5 = 11 < 18 Not enough for two teams, but enough for one team + extras?
As thuh Freak suggested, I don't see how else you can solve this problem with the information provided.
(edit: clarified that, by "e", I mean house number)
[ 01-31-2003: Message edited by: King Chung Huang ]</p>
I know nothing about american baseball but if the X<18 is right then we have to solve:
A=1
A<B<C<D
A+B+C+D<18
That gives (1,2,3,4) (1,2,3,5) (1,2,3,6) (1,2,3,7) (1,2,3,8) (1,2,3,9) (1,2,3,10) (1,2,3,11) (1,2,4,5) (1,2,4,6) (1,2,4,7) (1,2,4,8) (1,2,4,9) (1,2,4,10) (1,2,5,6) (1,2,5,7) (1,2,5,8) (1,2,5,9) (1,2,6,7) (1,2,6,8) (1,3,4,5) (1,3,4,6) (1,3,4,7) (1,3,4,8) (1,3,4,9) (1,3,5,6) (1,3,5,7) (1,3,5,8) (1,4,5,6) (1,4,5,7)
A*B*C*D = X for only one solution
Someone do the math and see if that brings us any closer.
Something specail about how you number your houses?
His cousin´s family could be just her and her kid (two persons). The second smallest family could consist of two lesbians and their only kid (three persons). That doesn´t make it easier I know....
<strong>Rats. I thought I had it with the Winchester Drive/Computer Science connection. How else are you supposed to infer the house number?</strong><hr></blockquote>
Perhaps because (1,2,4,8) is the only permutation whose product is a power of two? CS people love powers of two, no?
<strong>
Perhaps because (1,2,4,8) is the only permutation whose product is a power of two? CS people love powers of two, no?
Good thought, wrong answer. There is some guessing too, and someone might get lucky. When someone knows the answer, he or she will be able to explain it. By the way, I just posted on ThinkSecret (No Secret). Let's see who solves it first.
I made a very minor revision to the original posting to make it clear. Check the part about how many children in the cousin's family.
[ 01-31-2003: Message edited by: snoopy ]</p>
I win.
for perhaps the first time, I agree completely.
you win!