Hi All,

The factors of 36 are 1,2,2,3,3 which results in the following combinations of possible kid ages and the resulting bus #s.

1+2+18=21

1+3+12=16

1+4+9=14

1+6+6=13

2+2+9=13

2+3+6=11

Tom was told the sum of the kids ages (i.e. the bus number) and he was perplexed. Thus the bus number has to be non-unique and it's 13.

This narrows the ages to 1,6,6 or 2,2,9.

Also, John then added that the oldest plays Piano ... this rules out the answer with two same "oldest ages" and the remaining answer is 2,2,9.

So the kids are ages 2, 2, and 9, and the bus number is 13.

Greg