[Sciencegirl]

I really need help with this problem!

The host, one of those delightful people who insist on speaking in riddles, at a dinner party turned to his guest and said, "I have three daughters and, even though you didn't ask I will tell you how old they are. The product of their ages is 72. The sum of their ages is my house number. How old is each of my girls?"
The guest, accustomed to her friend's propensity for riddles, rushed to the door, certain she would solve the problem in an instant. She looked at the house number and her certainty faded. "I can't tell their ages. Tell me more."
"My oldest likes strawberry ice cream," added the host, smiling benignly.
"oh, well in that case, I know there ages."

Do you know the answer?

[tickle]

Someone already posted this riddle and I don't think it got any takers.

[ashleysb]

I have a riddle similar to this that may lead you down the right path.


"A family has newly moved into the area. A neighbor asks the parents how old their three girls are. The father answers that the product of their ages is 36 and, pointing to his car, adds that the sum of their ages equals the first two digits in his license plate number. After a short struggle with pen and paper the neighbor says he needs more information. He is then told that the oldest daughter loves strawberry ice cream. "Oh, now I understand," says the neighbor, who promptly comes up with the right answer. What are the ages of the three children?"




Solution:
Look at the factorizations of 36: (36,1,1), (18,2,1), (9,4,1),
(9,2,2), (6,6,1), (6,3,2), (4,3,3). All these add to distinct
sums except 9+2+2 = 6+6+1 = 13. That must be the first 2 digits
of the new family's license plate, or the neighbor would not have
needed more information. The fact that the new family has an
oldest daughter means the twins must be 2, not 6. So, the
daughters are aged 9, 2, 2.