Parental Eclipse of the Kids
20 December 2007
One Comment
I just realized something and here’s a puzzle that describes it…
For the next two months, my kids ages mimic my own age’s digits.
This will not happen again in my lifetime.
In 26 years my kids ages added together will equal my age.
How old am I and how old are my kids?
Dan [LINK] would get a kick out of this.
Kid A = x
Kid B = y (not necessarily younger than Kid A)
Francis = z
10x + y = z
x + 26 + y + 26 = z + 26
Therefore x = z – 26 – y
10(z – 26 – y) + y = z
10z – 260 – 9y = z
9z = 260 + 9y
z = 29 + y (give or take a month or two)
So Francis was 29 when kid B was born
10x + y = 29 + y
10x = 29
x = 3-ish
Not sure it’s possible to solve given there’s only two equations and three variables. But knowing Francis, I’d guess he’s 32, his kids are 3 and 2. In 26 years, he’ll be 58, his kids 28 and 29, and one kid will trip to their next birthday before Francis hits his 59th.