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BrainTwister #70: Powerful years

Can you solve this week’s logic puzzle? Plus our quick quiz and the answer to last week’s problem

By Colin Beveridge

23 April 2025

Âé¶¹´«Ã½. Science news and long reads from expert journalists, covering developments in science, technology, health and the environment on the website and the magazine.

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#70 Powerful years

Set by Colin Beveridge

Mathematician Augustus de Morgan turned n years old in the year n2. Given that he died in 1871, when was he born?

Young Carrie turned a square number of years old this year (2025). She wasn’t born in a square number year, but her age will be a power of 2 in the next year that is also a power of 2. When was she born?

When was the last time someone born in a square year would reach a square age in a different square year?

Solution next week…

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