Popular Science 1960 Fun Math Problem

I got this from a friend, and it was quite a bit of fun. Since we don't have a puzzle forum in BTS, I guess it's going to be general chit chat. It comes out of a Popular Science magazine from April of 1960 (page 22). Here's the problem as it appeared in Popular Science:



If you don't want any hints or anyone to give the answer away, I suggest you stop reading now and try to figure it out. Dunno if this will be popular here, but I sure enjoyed solving it. Have a good time!

EDIT: Added the image

[edit on 8-25-2005 by junglejake]

It's too early for math questions! But I can never seem to keep myself from trying.

Here's my first wrong answer for you: 25, 3, 3

Break the bad news to me gently please.

Break the bad news to you? How could I

Yew got her right!

Now one quick question for you: was there any extra information in the problem to throw you off?

To be honest, if there was I didn't notice it.

Broke it down to prime and then worked out the combo's. Only two added up to the same number and of those, only one had a single 'eldest'. I worked under the assumption that the census guy knew the house number and that was the reason for the final question.

Originally posted by Duzey
To be honest, if there was I didn't notice it.

Broke it down to prime and then worked out the combo's. Only two added up to the same number and of those, only one had a single 'eldest'. I worked under the assumption that the census guy knew the house number and that was the reason for the final question.

There ya go! There wasn't, but I was just checking to see if you guessed which of the 6 factor combinations applied instead of getting it through the address

Great job!

Ah, the ever popular guess and check system.

I used to get in so much trouble with that in school.

Teacher: Why didn't you show your work?
Me: I didn't do any. I just knew that was the answer.

It drove them nuts.....