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Michael Daniels Inner circle Isle of Man 1609 Posts |
Here's a new puzzle I've devised which you might like to try with your families over the holiday season:
One set of Mary's grandparents had four children. Each of those children had four children and each of those children also had four children. Assuming that all of these people are still alive, what is the least number of SECOND COUSINS each of Mary's children has? We can also assume that all children are born in wedlock. Second cousins are non-siblings who share the same great-grandparent. Mike |
Michael Daniels Inner circle Isle of Man 1609 Posts |
By "born in wedlock" I mean that all children are the natural offspring of legally-married parents.
Mike |
Michael Daniels Inner circle Isle of Man 1609 Posts |
As it's coming up to Christmas, the first Café member to PM me before 25th December with the correct answer (including explanation) will win one of my magic/mentalism eBooks (you can choose which one you'd like to receive).
Hint: The answer is NOT forty-eight. Mike |
Michael Daniels Inner circle Isle of Man 1609 Posts |
Just to clarify the meaning of second cousin (some people have been unsure about it), this definition is more accurate:
"Second cousins are people who share the same great-grandparent (discounting siblings and first cousins)". And again to clarify - by "least number" I mean "lowest possible number". So the puzzle now reads as follows: --------- One set of Mary's grandparents had four children. Each of those children had four children and each of those children also had four children. Assuming that all of these people are still alive, what is the lowest possible number of SECOND COUSINS each of Mary's children has? Everyone in the family is the natural child of legally-married parents. Second cousins are people who share the same great-grandparent (discounting siblings and first cousins). ------------- Mike |
Michael Daniels Inner circle Isle of Man 1609 Posts |
Many congratulations to LobowolfXXX who has sent me the best correct solution. Actually Lobowolf's solution is even better than the one I had worked out! So I've awarded him a prize of any TWO of my eBooks.
Brilliant stuff! (I'll let Lobowolf decide whether or not to post his solution). Mike |
LobowolfXXX Inner circle La Famiglia 1196 Posts |
Rather than post my solution directly, I'll post a related (simplified) puzzle that I used as the basis of my explanation to Mike. My solution to Mike's question was basically an extrapolated version of this (which is the way my thought process worked when I stumbled into the solution to his question).
Generally, the children of cousins are second cousins to each other. My cousin and I each have a child (two different children). My cousin and I have only been married once (each), and not to each other. Our children are not, and have not been, married. Our children are not second cousins to each other. Why not?
"Torture doesn't work" lol
Guess they forgot to tell Bill Buckley. "...as we reason and love, we are able to hope. And hope enables us to resist those things that would enslave us." |
Bob1Dog Inner circle Wife: It's me or this houseful of 1159 Posts |
You must be genealogists. They're first cousins once removed.
What if the Hokey Pokey really IS what it's all about?
My neighbor rang my doorbell at 2:30 a.m. this morning, can you believe that, 2:30 a.m.!? Lucky for him I was still up playing my drums. |
Bob1Dog Inner circle Wife: It's me or this houseful of 1159 Posts |
PS....referring to LobowolfXXX's last post, that is.
What if the Hokey Pokey really IS what it's all about?
My neighbor rang my doorbell at 2:30 a.m. this morning, can you believe that, 2:30 a.m.!? Lucky for him I was still up playing my drums. |
LobowolfXXX Inner circle La Famiglia 1196 Posts |
My children and my cousin's children are of the same generation, so they're not removed.
"Torture doesn't work" lol
Guess they forgot to tell Bill Buckley. "...as we reason and love, we are able to hope. And hope enables us to resist those things that would enslave us." |
Bob1Dog Inner circle Wife: It's me or this houseful of 1159 Posts |
Go back to genealogy 101
What if the Hokey Pokey really IS what it's all about?
My neighbor rang my doorbell at 2:30 a.m. this morning, can you believe that, 2:30 a.m.!? Lucky for him I was still up playing my drums. |
LobowolfXXX Inner circle La Famiglia 1196 Posts |
"Q: What is the term for the relationship between me and my first cousin's children? Are we second cousins or first cousins once removed? And what about between my children and my first cousin' children? Thanks for your help. -- Cathryn
A: Your relationship from yourself to your first cousin's children would be first cousins once removed. Anytime the descent to two people does not end in the same number of generations, you begin to count removeds. Since there is only one generational difference between yourself and the children of your first cousin, then it is once removed. Your children and your first cousin's children are second cousins. This is because both lines descend from the common ancestor by three generations. There are no removeds because both descents are the same number of generations." http://www.genealogy.com/askr042601.html Mike's definition above also fits nicely - two people who share the same great-grandparent other than siblings and first cousins. What's YOUR definition of "second cousins"?
"Torture doesn't work" lol
Guess they forgot to tell Bill Buckley. "...as we reason and love, we are able to hope. And hope enables us to resist those things that would enslave us." |
Bob1Dog Inner circle Wife: It's me or this houseful of 1159 Posts |
As I admitted to LobowolfXXX privately, I mistakenly looked at MY relationship to the child as being first cousins once removed, when in fact, the two children are second cousins. Mea Culpa!
What if the Hokey Pokey really IS what it's all about?
My neighbor rang my doorbell at 2:30 a.m. this morning, can you believe that, 2:30 a.m.!? Lucky for him I was still up playing my drums. |
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