On an snowy Sunday afternoon, Friedrich was walking down an icy street deep in thought when he bumped into his mathematician colleague Leonard.<\/p>\n
\u201cHi Leonard, nice to see you again,\u201d mumbled Friedrich absent-mindedly, his breath emanating from his nostrils as fog in the cold.<\/p>\n
\u201cLikewise, Friedrich. You seem to be absorbed in something,\u201d observed Leonard while smacking his gloved hands together to keep warm.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, you are right. I just came from visiting my brother Pascal and his family. He gave me a conundrum for the ages of the children of his brother-in-law, which I am ruminating on,\u201d said Friedrich, scratching his head.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m completely curious,\u201d said Leonard with big eyes.<\/p>\n
\u201cOk, Leonard, here you have the convoluted puzzle. Let\u2019s see what you can do with it,\u201d said Friedrich:<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen Albert is a third as old as Tina will be the year before when Albert is half as old as Lola is now, Tina will be twice as old as Lola was when Albert was half his current age.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cA year ago Tina was older than Albert\u2019s current age by one eighth of the product of Tina and Lola\u2019s present age difference and that of Lola and Albert.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cWhat do you think about it?\u201d inquired Friedrich.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, it certainly is something to chew on. I suggest we head for a fine warm French bistro I know about just around the corner,\u201d invited Leonard.<\/p>\n \u201cOk, last to solve the puzzle pays,\u201d smiled Friedrich.<\/p>\n Can you help Friedrich and Leonard work out the ages of Albert, Tina and Lola?<\/em><\/p>\nShare this:<\/h3>