A door-to-door insurance salesman stops at a woman's house and the following
dialog ensues:
- Salesman:
- How many children do you have?
- Woman:
- Three.
- Salesman:
- And what are their ages?
- Woman:
- I don't thnk I want to tell you.
- Salesman:
- Please! How about a hint?
- Woman:
- Okay, the product of their ages is thirty-six (all ages are a whole number).
- Salesman:
- That's not much to go on. Can you give me another hint?
- Woman:
- The sum of their ages is equal to the number on the house next door.
The salesman immediately runs off, jumps over the fence, looks at the number on the
house next door, scratches his head, and goes back to the woman.
- Salesman:
- Could you give me just one more hint?
- Woman:
- The oldest one plays the piano.
The salesman thinks for a bit, does some calculations, and figures out the children's ages. What are they?