Riddle Me This?????

[Testman]

Any mathematicians got an answer to this one.


When Sara asked her grandfather how old he was, he said "The 2 digits in my age are the ages of your brother and sister. If you add their ages to mine it equals 83." How young is Sara's grandfather?

If you know the answer can you explain how you got it.

This was a bonus question on my son's math test, he didn't answer it, but has bugged him all day to know what the answer is.

Thanks

 

[Tororider]

The grandpa is 73, therefore the brother and sister are 7 and 3. 7+3+73=83. Don't know how I got it, just took two digits and added it to the age. I was always a guess and check kind of guy, but it has worked for me. Let me know if I am wrong, it wouldn't be the first time.

 

[MossRoad]

Any mathematicians got an answer to this one.


When Sara asked her grandfather how old he was, he said "The 2 digits in my age are the ages of your brother and sister. If you add their ages to mine it equals 83." How young is Sara's grandfather?

If you know the answer can you explain how you got it.

This was a bonus question on my son's math test, he didn't answer it, but has bugged him all day to know what the answer is.

Thanks

I'll give it a try...

83 - (s + b) = granpa's age.

So,

83 - (7 + 3) = 73

So grandpa's age could be 73 and the kid's ages could be 7 and 3.

 

[tractor7]

testman I think (tororider) is correct in the way he has calculated.
You never know there may be different ways to calculate it too
maths????

 

[Tig]

When Sara asked her grandfather how old he was, he said "The 2 digits in my age are the ages of your brother and sister. If you add their ages to mine it equals 83." How young is Sara's grandfather?

It's a trick question. They did not ask for his age. They asked "how young is he?' Based on the fact that he is a grandfather, the answer would be something along the lines of, "not very". Have your son try that answer on the teacher.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Did they give you Sara's phone number so you can ask how old her brother and sister are? Also, is this a current question or one that Sara asked of her grandfather last year. Also, what month and day was the question asked and we would have to know her brother and sisters birthday also to be able to figure it exactly.

I don't know why teachers asked these kids such silly questions. There is no real way to know the answer because the teacher didn't give them enough information to properly answer the question.

 

[DieselPower]

Did they give you Sara's phone number so you can ask how old her brother and sister are? Also, is this a current question or one that Sara asked of her grandfather last year. Also, what month and day was the question asked and we would have to know her brother and sisters birthday also to be able to figure it exactly.

I don't know why teachers asked these kids such silly questions. There is no real way to know the answer because the teacher didn't give them enough information to properly answer the question.

Nope it's not a silly question and is a excellent way to demonstrate how to perform mathematical functions to students. Actually the teacher did give them all information needed. The correct answer as was already given is 73, simple math.

 

[mbrule]

HMMMMM...

Was there enough information given to arrive at an answer algebraically, I can't figure it out if there is. Anyone????

I agree the given answer is correct, but can't put the algebra together to get it......

Matt

 

[dooleysm]

It's a great algebra question. A graphing calculator would show you all the answers, because there are a limitless number of them:

83 = x + y + (10x + y)

which simplifies to:

x = -(2/11)y + 83/11

 

[MossRoad]

It's a great algebra question. A graphing calculator would show you all the answers, because there are a limitless number of them:

83 = x + y + (10x + y)

which simplifies to:

x = -(2/11)y + 83/11

I agree that the answer is 73. Can you show me another answer to the question?