Posted February 15, 2016
zeogold: Your wish is my command, sahib.
So, gents, I happen to have a li'l cousin. In the year in which he was born, his brother was exactly one quarter of the age of their father, and now this brother is a third of the age of his uncle.
Oh, but I suppose it's only fair you know about my cousin as well, yes?
My cousin is a quarter as old as his dad, but never fear! In four more years, he'll be a quarter as old as his uncle will be!
So, how old is my cousin now?
Just noticed this wasn't solved till now. Sorry zeogold, I made you come up with it then when you did it somehow slipped me :( So, gents, I happen to have a li'l cousin. In the year in which he was born, his brother was exactly one quarter of the age of their father, and now this brother is a third of the age of his uncle.
Oh, but I suppose it's only fair you know about my cousin as well, yes?
My cousin is a quarter as old as his dad, but never fear! In four more years, he'll be a quarter as old as his uncle will be!
So, how old is my cousin now?
Here goes:
Writing equations from the information given
(b-c)*4 = f-c
b*3 = u
c*4 = f
(c+4)*4 = u+4
Four linear equations with four unknowns.
Solving:
c=9.6
b=16.8
f=38.4
u=50.4
So.
Cousin is 9.6 years old, brother is 16.8, father is 38.4, uncle is 50.4.
WWhen cousin was born (9.6) years ago, his brother was 7.2, exactly one quarter of the fater who was 28.8 then.
Brother now is third of the age of his uncle.
Cousin now is quarter of the age of the father.
In four years, the cousin will be 13.6, exactly one quarter of the age of his uncle, who will be 54.4 then.
blarth: The inductive step doesn't work when n+1=2 since the two subsets you create have nothing in common.
Like the "all horses are of same colour..." Anyway, go ahead and ask your puzzle now since you answered first. Otherwise, I'll come up with something myself.
Post edited February 15, 2016 by ZFR