+0

# brain teaser

+11
339
8
+11753

nobody knows how old aunt helen is but she gave a few hints. she had passed1/20 of her life before she started school. she spent 3/20of her life in school;she worked for 1/20of her life before she got married . she was married for 2/5of her life . her husband died after 7/10 of her life .

from reading uncle harrys gravestone you find out that she has been a widow for 24 years . how old is aunt helen ?

rosala  May 25, 2014

#5
+957
+13

Well, if she has been a widow for 3/10 of her life (her husband died after 7/10 of her life), and 3/10=24, then , to solve the puzzle, you simply have to find one tenth of her age.

$${\frac{{\mathtt{3}}}{{\mathtt{10}}}}{\mathtt{\,\times\,}}{\mathtt{x}} = {\mathtt{24}}$$

To get 1/10 from 3/10, the 3/10 must be divided by 3. Likewise, as you do to one side, you must do to both sides.

$${\frac{{\mathtt{1}}}{{\mathtt{10}}}}{\mathtt{\,\times\,}}{\mathtt{x}} = {\mathtt{8}}$$

Multiply by 10 on both sides. This will cancel out the 1/10 into 1 and find her true age.

$${\mathtt{1}}{\mathtt{\,\times\,}}{\mathtt{x}} = {\mathtt{80}}$$

Aunt Helen is 80 years old. She started school when she was 4. She went to school for 12 years, or until she was 16. She worked for 4 years before finding her husband, Harry. She was married to Harry for 32 years, and he died when she was 52, and has spent the rest of the time since as a widow.

I think you messed up the puzzle and forgot to add 1/20 in there somewhere, because adding all of these values together gets 76 years old, though with the values given I get 80. Either way, she probably just likes to think that she is younger

Some values:

$${\frac{{\mathtt{1}}}{{\mathtt{20}}}}{\mathtt{\,\times\,}}\left({\mathtt{80}}\right) = {\mathtt{4}}$$

$${\frac{{\mathtt{3}}}{{\mathtt{20}}}}{\mathtt{\,\times\,}}\left({\mathtt{80}}\right) = {\mathtt{12}}$$

$${\frac{{\mathtt{2}}}{{\mathtt{5}}}}{\mathtt{\,\times\,}}\left({\mathtt{80}}\right) = {\mathtt{32}}$$

$${\frac{{\mathtt{3}}}{{\mathtt{10}}}}{\mathtt{\,\times\,}}\left({\mathtt{80}}\right) = {\mathtt{24}}$$

Proof for why the puzzle isn't correct:

$$\left({\frac{{\mathtt{1}}}{{\mathtt{20}}}}{\mathtt{\,\small\textbf+\,}}{\frac{{\mathtt{3}}}{{\mathtt{20}}}}{\mathtt{\,\small\textbf+\,}}{\frac{{\mathtt{1}}}{{\mathtt{20}}}}{\mathtt{\,\small\textbf+\,}}{\frac{{\mathtt{2}}}{{\mathtt{5}}}}{\mathtt{\,\small\textbf+\,}}{\frac{{\mathtt{3}}}{{\mathtt{10}}}}\right) = {\frac{{\mathtt{19}}}{{\mathtt{20}}}} = {\mathtt{0.95}}$$

GoldenLeaf  May 25, 2014
Sort:

#1
+91045
+3

hi Rosala, I have referenced this puzzle from "Puzzles" in the sticky notes so it can be found again easily at a later date.

Melody  May 25, 2014
#4
+11753
+8

thanks melody !

rosala  May 25, 2014
#5
+957
+13

Well, if she has been a widow for 3/10 of her life (her husband died after 7/10 of her life), and 3/10=24, then , to solve the puzzle, you simply have to find one tenth of her age.

$${\frac{{\mathtt{3}}}{{\mathtt{10}}}}{\mathtt{\,\times\,}}{\mathtt{x}} = {\mathtt{24}}$$

To get 1/10 from 3/10, the 3/10 must be divided by 3. Likewise, as you do to one side, you must do to both sides.

$${\frac{{\mathtt{1}}}{{\mathtt{10}}}}{\mathtt{\,\times\,}}{\mathtt{x}} = {\mathtt{8}}$$

Multiply by 10 on both sides. This will cancel out the 1/10 into 1 and find her true age.

$${\mathtt{1}}{\mathtt{\,\times\,}}{\mathtt{x}} = {\mathtt{80}}$$

Aunt Helen is 80 years old. She started school when she was 4. She went to school for 12 years, or until she was 16. She worked for 4 years before finding her husband, Harry. She was married to Harry for 32 years, and he died when she was 52, and has spent the rest of the time since as a widow.

I think you messed up the puzzle and forgot to add 1/20 in there somewhere, because adding all of these values together gets 76 years old, though with the values given I get 80. Either way, she probably just likes to think that she is younger

Some values:

$${\frac{{\mathtt{1}}}{{\mathtt{20}}}}{\mathtt{\,\times\,}}\left({\mathtt{80}}\right) = {\mathtt{4}}$$

$${\frac{{\mathtt{3}}}{{\mathtt{20}}}}{\mathtt{\,\times\,}}\left({\mathtt{80}}\right) = {\mathtt{12}}$$

$${\frac{{\mathtt{2}}}{{\mathtt{5}}}}{\mathtt{\,\times\,}}\left({\mathtt{80}}\right) = {\mathtt{32}}$$

$${\frac{{\mathtt{3}}}{{\mathtt{10}}}}{\mathtt{\,\times\,}}\left({\mathtt{80}}\right) = {\mathtt{24}}$$

Proof for why the puzzle isn't correct:

$$\left({\frac{{\mathtt{1}}}{{\mathtt{20}}}}{\mathtt{\,\small\textbf+\,}}{\frac{{\mathtt{3}}}{{\mathtt{20}}}}{\mathtt{\,\small\textbf+\,}}{\frac{{\mathtt{1}}}{{\mathtt{20}}}}{\mathtt{\,\small\textbf+\,}}{\frac{{\mathtt{2}}}{{\mathtt{5}}}}{\mathtt{\,\small\textbf+\,}}{\frac{{\mathtt{3}}}{{\mathtt{10}}}}\right) = {\frac{{\mathtt{19}}}{{\mathtt{20}}}} = {\mathtt{0.95}}$$

GoldenLeaf  May 25, 2014
#6
+11753
+8

let me tell u that the puzzle is perfectly correct !

but ur method ist and also the puzzle contains all the information required to solve it ,i would suggest u to understand the puzzle much nicely and if u cant understand it thats the reason for its called a "Puzzle " !

think before it !

rosala  May 25, 2014
#7
+91045
+3

Hi Rosala,

If people get your puzzles right - and you are absolutely sure that they are correct then could you please give them a thumbs up.

If you are not sure ask for one of the mathematicians to check!

Melody.

Melody  May 26, 2014
#8
+11753
+8

ok melody ill surely do that ! thanks !

rosala  May 26, 2014
#9
0

She is 94 years old

Guest Jan 16, 2015
#10
+91045
0

Who Rosala?  Are you 94 Rosala?  You have a lot of energy for a 94 y.o.

GOOD FOR YOU!!!!!

Melody  Jan 17, 2015

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