[SOLVED] So Joe knocks on some old lady's door...

[Ender]

This is taken from a book, which of course I will not name ^.^ Yes, it's a problem. It's not the one I promised to post in the "what's the probability of another girl" thread, but it is fun. I'm saving that one I promised for later.

Joe knocks on some strange woman's door. He asks the stranger how many children she has and what their ages are.   

Woman: I have three daughters, their ages are whole numbers, and the product of the ages is 36.
Joe: Tell me more.
Woman: I'd tell you the sum of their ages, but you'd still be stumped.
Joe: I'd tell you to screw yourself, but you wouldn't know how.
Woman: Fine, more info: my oldest daughter is the last living descendant of Jesus.

What are the ages of the three daughters?

[rabbit]

Meh, I've seen this one.

[Joe]

Impossible. Jesus didn't have children. :-\.

Some possible combinations:
18, 2, 1
9, 2, 2
12, 3, 1
6, 3, 2
4, 3, 3

[Ender]

That's a good start Joe. There are more combinations and I would advise listing them all out.

[d&q]

9-2-2.

[Joe]

I've already got that one, Deus. :)

[rabbit]

It's not correct if you've got a bunch of answers (you don't even have all of them).

[Ender]

9-2-2.

x86] link=topic=7071.msg88957#msg88957 date=1156328422]
I've already got that one, Deus. :)

LOL joe. That's the answer. Or were you joking?

Good job Deuce, you're right! Care to explain your answer?

[d&q]

Um, basically we have these possible ages:

1-1-36
1-2-18
1-3-12
1-4-9
1-6-6
2-2-9
2-3-6
3-3-4

The phrase "I'd tell you the sum of their ages, but you'd still be stumped." implies that the sum of the ages isnt distinct among the possible ages, leaving us with:

9-2-2
1-6-6

These both equal thirteen.

Then I looked at the next sentence "Fine, more info: my oldest daughter is the last living descendant of Jesus." This implies that there has to be an oldest daughter, which eradicates the possibility of oldest twins. 9-2-2 is the answer.