Answer to Problem of the Month for April 2026

From the seven clues below, can you determine how old Mr. P's Grandchildren will be or would have been in 2026?

Give the age for each of the following grandchildren:

	Ben =
	Carrie =

	Jackson =
	James =
	Kate =
	Libby =
	Stewart =

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Solution to the Problem:

Here is the solution:

	Ben = 20
	Carrie = 26

	Jackson = 22
	James = 28
	Kate = 22
	Libby = 11
	Stewart = 16

Let X = age of James
Let J = age of Jackson
Let B = age of Ben
Let C = age of Carrie
Let S = age of Stewart
Let L = age of Libby
Let K = age of Kate

We solve the system:
1. K=J
2. J=2L
3. X+C+K+J+B+S+L=145
4. K+B+L+1=X+C
5. B+S+1=C+L
6. X−L=S+1
7. K+C=3S

Step 1: Use the simple substitutions
From (1) and (2):
K=J=2L

Step 2: Rewrite everything in terms of L
From (6):
X=S+1+L
From (7):
C=3S−2L
From (5):
B=4(S−L)
Solving the reduced system gives:
L=11

Step 3: Find all remaining variables
S=(3L−1)/2=16
B=2L−2=20
C=26
X=28
K=22
J=22

Correctly solved by:

1. Elizabeth Pleacher	Bastrop, Texas, USA
2. Colin (Yowie) Bowey	Beechworth, Victoria, Australia
3. Diana Kennett	Bastrop, Texas, USA
4. Dr. Hari Kishan	D.N. College, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India
5. Max Long	Central High School, Grand Junction, Colorado, USA
6. Johanna Villeda	Central High School, Grand Junction, Colorado, USA
7. Davit Banana	Istanbul, Turkey
8. Ivy Joseph	Pune, Maharashtra, India
9. Ryleigh Regan	Central High School, Grand Junction, Colorado, USA
10. Dakoda Perrigo	Central High School, Grand Junction, Colorado, USA
11. Kelly Stubblefield	Mobile, Alabama, USA

April 2026 Problem of the Month

Correctly solved by:

April 2026
Problem of the Month