Tuesday Puzzle

9/29/09, 4:21 AM #1

Dan Donaldson
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Tuesday Puzzle

Here is a fairly easy one, but be very aware of the exact wording of the puzzle ;-)

Mr. and Mrs. Jorkins have fifteen children, all born at intervals of one year and a half.

Miss Ada Jorkins, the eldest, had an objection to state her age to the census man, but she

admitted that she was just seven times older than little Johnnie, the youngest of all. What

was Ada's age?

- - -

I have been woodworking for about 25 years now, and would consider myself an enthusiastic amateur. My claim to fame (or infamy) has always been fixing stuff. I spent time in the Air Force in the 60's then went to work as an electronic technician for civil service. I finally got my EE, and being fed up with the civil service nonsense, took a job with Ford Motor Company until I went with the split to Visteon last year. I got interested in music and started playing in a bluegrass band. I wanted a new guitar, and that kind of led me into woodworking. I bought some books, a few tools, and built a guitar. Luckily, I didn't know any better than to try that as a first ever project. I still play it when I get a chance, so it must not be too bad if it can live for over 20 years. After a stint in Mexico for my job, I moved into a new house and built a small shop. Since then I have been collecting tools and skills, probably more of the former than the latter ;-). Finding this site has done more for my skills and enjoyment than anything else. I have learned a lot and really enjoy the friendships that I have made here. I have been married to LOML (Lori) for 32 years now and have 6 kids. When they are all gone, I want to get a 1 bedroom house (so there is not room for them to move back in) and at least a 6 car heated/air conditioned garage for a shop. (Dream on...)

Re: Tuesday Puzzle

9/29/09, 9:53 AM #2

Ken Oakley-Sunny St. Cloud, Fla.
Guest

28-?

Re: Tuesday Puzzle

9/29/09, 10:23 AM #3

Alex Yeilding
Guest

What Ken said, less Johny's age

But I didn't catch any tricky wording in the puzzle, so I'm probably off here. Will have to look again after a cup of coffee!

Re: Tuesday Puzzle

9/29/09, 11:29 AM #4

Bill Earl
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Registered: 6/17/05

Re: Tuesday Puzzle

If I read this right, the census man must have showed up sometime close to the birthday of the second oldest sibling.

Re: Tuesday Puzzle

9/29/09, 1:39 PM #5

Dan Donaldson
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5,264 posts

Registered: 9/17/01

not quite ;-)

- - -

I have been woodworking for about 25 years now, and would consider myself an enthusiastic amateur. My claim to fame (or infamy) has always been fixing stuff. I spent time in the Air Force in the 60's then went to work as an electronic technician for civil service. I finally got my EE, and being fed up with the civil service nonsense, took a job with Ford Motor Company until I went with the split to Visteon last year. I got interested in music and started playing in a bluegrass band. I wanted a new guitar, and that kind of led me into woodworking. I bought some books, a few tools, and built a guitar. Luckily, I didn't know any better than to try that as a first ever project. I still play it when I get a chance, so it must not be too bad if it can live for over 20 years. After a stint in Mexico for my job, I moved into a new house and built a small shop. Since then I have been collecting tools and skills, probably more of the former than the latter ;-). Finding this site has done more for my skills and enjoyment than anything else. I have learned a lot and really enjoy the friendships that I have made here. I have been married to LOML (Lori) for 32 years now and have 6 kids. When they are all gone, I want to get a 1 bedroom house (so there is not room for them to move back in) and at least a 6 car heated/air conditioned garage for a shop. (Dream on...)

Re: Tuesday Puzzle

9/29/09, 1:39 PM #6

Dan Donaldson
Member
Offline
5,264 posts

Registered: 9/17/01

no ;-)

- - -

I have been woodworking for about 25 years now, and would consider myself an enthusiastic amateur. My claim to fame (or infamy) has always been fixing stuff. I spent time in the Air Force in the 60's then went to work as an electronic technician for civil service. I finally got my EE, and being fed up with the civil service nonsense, took a job with Ford Motor Company until I went with the split to Visteon last year. I got interested in music and started playing in a bluegrass band. I wanted a new guitar, and that kind of led me into woodworking. I bought some books, a few tools, and built a guitar. Luckily, I didn't know any better than to try that as a first ever project. I still play it when I get a chance, so it must not be too bad if it can live for over 20 years. After a stint in Mexico for my job, I moved into a new house and built a small shop. Since then I have been collecting tools and skills, probably more of the former than the latter ;-). Finding this site has done more for my skills and enjoyment than anything else. I have learned a lot and really enjoy the friendships that I have made here. I have been married to LOML (Lori) for 32 years now and have 6 kids. When they are all gone, I want to get a 1 bedroom house (so there is not room for them to move back in) and at least a 6 car heated/air conditioned garage for a shop. (Dream on...)

Re: Tuesday Puzzle

9/29/09, 2:19 PM #7

Lee Schierer - McKean, PA
Guest

24.5

Re: Tuesday Puzzle

9/29/09, 2:30 PM #8

Alex Yeilding
Guest

Dan said "not quite"

But I agree. Waiting to find out the subtlety in wording that we are missing...

Re: Tuesday Puzzle

9/29/09, 4:19 PM #9

Ken Oakley-Sunny St. Cloud, Fla.
Guest

How About 21?

Re: Tuesday Puzzle

9/29/09, 6:26 PM #10

Alex Yeilding
Guest

Aha!?!?

Just saw what I may have been missing. If I am right, it is most likely that at least four of their children are adopted or are from a previous marriage.

Re: Tuesday Puzzle

9/29/09, 6:37 PM #11

Dan Donaldson
Member
Offline
5,264 posts

Registered: 9/17/01

No ;-)

There is a subtle trap in the wording of the problem.

- - -

I have been woodworking for about 25 years now, and would consider myself an enthusiastic amateur. My claim to fame (or infamy) has always been fixing stuff. I spent time in the Air Force in the 60's then went to work as an electronic technician for civil service. I finally got my EE, and being fed up with the civil service nonsense, took a job with Ford Motor Company until I went with the split to Visteon last year. I got interested in music and started playing in a bluegrass band. I wanted a new guitar, and that kind of led me into woodworking. I bought some books, a few tools, and built a guitar. Luckily, I didn't know any better than to try that as a first ever project. I still play it when I get a chance, so it must not be too bad if it can live for over 20 years. After a stint in Mexico for my job, I moved into a new house and built a small shop. Since then I have been collecting tools and skills, probably more of the former than the latter ;-). Finding this site has done more for my skills and enjoyment than anything else. I have learned a lot and really enjoy the friendships that I have made here. I have been married to LOML (Lori) for 32 years now and have 6 kids. When they are all gone, I want to get a 1 bedroom house (so there is not room for them to move back in) and at least a 6 car heated/air conditioned garage for a shop. (Dream on...)

Re: Tuesday Puzzle

9/29/09, 7:47 PM #12

Ken Oakley-Sunny St. Cloud, Fla.
Guest

Answer has to do with the census man??

Re: Tuesday Puzzle

9/29/09, 7:50 PM #13

Ed in Leaside
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Registered: 11/3/05

Re: Aha!?!?

What about twins?

Re: Tuesday Puzzle

9/29/09, 8:20 PM #14

Alex Yeilding
Guest

Re: Aha!?!?

Never heard of twins born that far apart!!

Re: Tuesday Puzzle

9/29/09, 9:17 PM #15

Alex Yeilding
Guest

Re: Aha!?!? -- my answer

14

Mr. and Mrs. Jorkins have fifteen children, all born at intervals of one year and a half.

This wording bothered me from the beginning, but I couldn't figure out a way of interpreting it that made a difference. However, if I interpret it as:

Mr. and Mrs. Jorkins have fifteen children, all born at intervals of one year [between some pairs] and a half [year between other pairs -- whence my speculation about adoption or blended family]

then I can assume an integer difference between the oldest's and youngest's ages of 7-13 years. If Johnnie is two and his oldest sister 14, this would work. And it only requires two adoptions (not four as I stated originally). The mother has 13 children born at one-year spacing, and adopts two whose birthdays are in two slots six months off from her birth children's birthdays.

Re: Tuesday Puzzle

9/29/09, 11:36 PM #16

Dan Donaldson
Member
Offline
5,264 posts

Registered: 9/17/01

not the error

- - -

I have been woodworking for about 25 years now, and would consider myself an enthusiastic amateur. My claim to fame (or infamy) has always been fixing stuff. I spent time in the Air Force in the 60's then went to work as an electronic technician for civil service. I finally got my EE, and being fed up with the civil service nonsense, took a job with Ford Motor Company until I went with the split to Visteon last year. I got interested in music and started playing in a bluegrass band. I wanted a new guitar, and that kind of led me into woodworking. I bought some books, a few tools, and built a guitar. Luckily, I didn't know any better than to try that as a first ever project. I still play it when I get a chance, so it must not be too bad if it can live for over 20 years. After a stint in Mexico for my job, I moved into a new house and built a small shop. Since then I have been collecting tools and skills, probably more of the former than the latter ;-). Finding this site has done more for my skills and enjoyment than anything else. I have learned a lot and really enjoy the friendships that I have made here. I have been married to LOML (Lori) for 32 years now and have 6 kids. When they are all gone, I want to get a 1 bedroom house (so there is not room for them to move back in) and at least a 6 car heated/air conditioned garage for a shop. (Dream on...)

Re: Tuesday Puzzle

9/29/09, 11:41 PM #17

Dan Donaldson
Member
Offline
5,264 posts

Registered: 9/17/01

Answer

The daughter is 24 and the youngest is 3. The wording in question is "seven times older than little Johnnie". Most interpret this as "seven times as old as", but it actually means "8 times as old as". If Johnnie is 3, then 7 times older than is 21 years older than or 24 years old.

- - -

I have been woodworking for about 25 years now, and would consider myself an enthusiastic amateur. My claim to fame (or infamy) has always been fixing stuff. I spent time in the Air Force in the 60's then went to work as an electronic technician for civil service. I finally got my EE, and being fed up with the civil service nonsense, took a job with Ford Motor Company until I went with the split to Visteon last year. I got interested in music and started playing in a bluegrass band. I wanted a new guitar, and that kind of led me into woodworking. I bought some books, a few tools, and built a guitar. Luckily, I didn't know any better than to try that as a first ever project. I still play it when I get a chance, so it must not be too bad if it can live for over 20 years. After a stint in Mexico for my job, I moved into a new house and built a small shop. Since then I have been collecting tools and skills, probably more of the former than the latter ;-). Finding this site has done more for my skills and enjoyment than anything else. I have learned a lot and really enjoy the friendships that I have made here. I have been married to LOML (Lori) for 32 years now and have 6 kids. When they are all gone, I want to get a 1 bedroom house (so there is not room for them to move back in) and at least a 6 car heated/air conditioned garage for a shop. (Dream on...)

Tuesday Puzzle

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