# Math Help - Word problem

1. ## Word problem

John was born 1980. In 2025 he will be 45 years old. These numbers are related because 45² = 2025.
John's great grand mother was also 'n' years old in the year n².
How old was she when John was born?

I know this is probably simple, but I just can't seem to wrap my brain around it.

thanks

2. Originally Posted by jacs
John was born 1980. In 2025 he will be 45 years old. These numbers are related because 45² = 2025.
John's great grand mother was also 'n' years old in the year n².
How old was she when John was born?

I know this is probably simple, but I just can't seem to wrap my brain around it.

thanks
She would have been either 44 in 1936, or 43 in 1849, I think the earlier
possibilities are implausible.

If she was 44 in 1936, she was born in 1892, so she was 88 in 1980.

You can work the other case yourself (and probably reject it as implausible).

RonL

3. Please post the explanation and answer if you know it, I'm also interested in this question.

-NineZeroFive

4. i used n + n² = 1980 to get the 44
just didnt know what to do with it from there

thanks for that, cheers

5. Originally Posted by 905
Please post the explanation and answer if you know it, I'm also interested in this question.

-NineZeroFive
Not all math problems can be solved with formulas. When this happens, I try to use logical clues to find the answer. The logical clue in this case is that the year that this phenoman happened with the grandmother is before that of John. So try finding the first perfect-square year before 2025.

~ $Q\!u\!i\!c\!k$

6. Originally Posted by Quick
Not all math problems can be solved with formulas. When this happens, I try to use logical clues to find the answer. The logical clue in this case is that the year that this phenoman happened with the grandmother is before that of John. So try finding the first perfect-square year before 2025.

~ $Q\!u\!i\!c\!k$
The next perfect-square unit is $44^2=1936$ Does that mean his grandmother was born in 1936 and therefore was 44 years old when John was born? $1980-1936=44$ Correct? Anything furthur you could explain?

7. Originally Posted by NineZeroFive
The next perfect-square unit is $44^2=1936$ Does that mean his grandmother was born in 1936 and therefore was 44 years old when John was born? $1980-1936=44$ Correct? Anything furthur you could explain?
It means the great-grandmother was 44 in 1936.

~ $Q\!u\!i\!c\!k$

8. Originally Posted by Quick
It means the great-grandmother was 44 in 1936.

~ $Q\!u\!i\!c\!k$
I understand now,

Thank you
-NineZeroFive