One of the things I miss in retirement [Filler]

Problem-solving. A FB friend posted a piece from Popular Mechanics, “MIT Applicants Had to Solve This Viral Math Puzzle on the 1876 Entrance Exam.” Here's the problem: “A father said to his son, ‘Two years ago I was three times as old as you; but in fourteen years I shall be only twice as old as you.’ What were the ages of each?” This is my 7-line solution for the father's age (F) and the son's age (S).

A much more interesting problem that's been going around the internet since at least last fall is the “hanging cable” problem. This one is complicated enough and intriguing enough that I developed a somewhat sophisticated Excel spreadsheet to consider arbitrary cases, not just the one that's allegedly asked of job applicants at Amazon.

Like I said, I miss problem-solving.

Looking back
  1 year ago: No post
 2 years ago: “Celebrating Jenny [Travel day]”
 3 years ago: “Taliesin West”
 4 years ago: “Preparing for the 2017 solar eclipse!”
 5 years ago: “A 1-frame day: any [other] questions?”
 6 years ago: “A not-quite-lonely tree on the road to Freeburg”
 7 years ago: “Jennifer”
 8 years ago: “It’s just not ‘Christmas’…”
 9 years ago: “Miscommunication”
10 years ago: “Gnarly tree and Gnew library”

[ PXL_20210117_183422239S78x75Atm :: cell phone ]

[Mags]

Well, some people have to miss it. I'm glad you're one of them. =)

[Esther Rosenberg]

I just gave this to my 16 year old son ( 10th grader).....he is working on it right now.....( has only given the info: ‘Two years ago I was three times as old as you; but in fourteen years I shall be only twice as old as you.’ What were the ages of each?” and did not see your solution)

Let's see if he can solve it.....
he has started over twice now....still excited to get it solved
Will post again

[Esther Rosenberg]

Okay, solved.....he is totally psyched. Thanks for the fun!

[Rick Schies]

Oh my, basic numbers I am ok with but when it becomes this complicated, well let's say, I have so many things that need to be done

[Thom Mitchell]

@dutchothotmailcom Hooray! Where is he in school, high school junior?

[Esther Rosenberg]

@rhoing. He is a sophomore in high school. He loves math and accelerate in it ( Completing calc BC now). He has his eyes on MIT.....so I loved sharing this with him.

[Thom Mitchell]

@dutchothotmailcom Excellent! I've often wished I'd saved a full-page ad in the Wall Street Journal a few -- ahem -- decades ago. Very short message. Paraphrasing, “Your second grade teacher said you weren't very good at math, so you gave up and closed one-third of the doors of your future.” It may even have been one-half. Don't let him get discouraged! I'm so grateful for the awesome teachers I had in high school and the professors I had at university and in graduate school! But I do miss the problem-solving!

[Thom Mitchell]

@dutchothotmailcom Two years hence, he's now a senior. Thoughts on college(s)/major(s)? :)