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From: mcdermot@unmvax.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.puzzle
Subject: Census Taker Problem
Message-ID: <270@unmvax.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 20-Mar-84 14:10:40 EST
Article-I.D.: unmvax.270
Posted: Tue Mar 20 14:10:40 1984
Date-Received: Sun, 25-Mar-84 09:33:32 EST
Organization: Univ. of New Mexico, Albuquerque
Lines: 26

<>
Perhaps this has appeared here before, but I have not seen it posted:

		The Census Taker Problem
      A certain census-taker is very good at mental arithmetic.  One day, in
the course of his duties, he approaches a certain house, noting the house
number in his book as he reaches the front door.  In response to his ring,
a man comes to the door.
      The c-t then asks the man the usual questions about his age, marital
status, etc., and gets satisfactory answers.  The C-t then asks, "Are there
any others living in the house; if so, how old are they?"  After a pause
the man replies, "There are three others.  The product of their ages is
1296 and the sum of their ages is the same as the number of this house."
      After a pause the c-t asks, "Is any one of the others the same age
as you?"  The man replies, "No."  The c-t then leaves, saying he has all the
information he needs.
      If the man had replied, "Yes,"  the c-t would still have had all the
information he needed.  QUESTION: "What is the number of the house?"

Good luck.

-- 

John McDermott			{gatech|ucbvax|parsec}!mcdermot
Univ of NM			W (505) 277-4650
Albuquerque, NM 87131		H (505) 255-7796