Henry Ernest Dudeney/Puzzles and Curious Problems/41 - Ancient Problem/Solution

Puzzles and Curious Problems by Henry Ernest Dudeney: $41$

Ancient Problem

Demochares has lived one-fourth of his life as a boy;

one-fifth as a youth;

one-third as a man;

and has spent thirteen years in his dotage.

How old is this gentleman?

Solution

Demochares is $60$ years old.

This is epigram $127$ of book $\text {XIV}$ of The Greek Anthology.

Contemporary middle-aged readers may object to the definition of "dotage" as starting at age $47$.

Sources

• 1932: Henry Ernest Dudeney: Puzzles and Curious Problems ... (previous) ... (next): Solutions: $41$. -- Ancient Problem
• 1968: Henry Ernest Dudeney: 536 Puzzles & Curious Problems ... (previous) ... (next): Answers: Age Puzzles: $36$. Ancient Problem