The Bartender's Children

A man walks into a bar, orders a drink, and starts chatting with the bartender. After a while he finds out the bartender has three children. The man asks, "How old are your children?" The bartender thinks for a second and says, "The product of their ages is 72." The man ponders this and says, "That is not enough information." "OK," the bartender says, "if you go outside and look at the address of the bar you will see the sum of their ages." The man goes outside and sees the address, comes back in, and says, "Still not enough information." The bartender says, "My youngest LOVES Strawberry ice cream."

How old are the children?

 

2, 6, 6

 

heard this one before

 

Only counts if you can show your work.

 

but how'd you get the answer again??

 

I.... don't...... know!!

 

well, the only possibilities for 3 kids, whose age's product is 72 is:

72*1*1
36*2*1
24*3*1
18*4*1
18*2*2
12*6*1
12*3*2
9*4*2
9*8*1
8*3*3
6*6*2
6*4*3


but then the bartender says to check the address. the guy does, but it's still inconclusive. this means that there are two possible combinations with the same sum - if not, the guy could've figured it out.

thus, the remaining combos are

8*3*3
6*6*2

both with a sum of 14


but then he says his YOUNGEST loves ice cream. obviously, the youngest does not have a twin. the 8*3*3 combo is not possible.

you're left with 6*6*2

 

Spot on!

 

 

good job smarty pants