h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

My grandfather was x years old in the year x squared. When was he born?

1892

and here in Ireland, it is Thursday!

No idea - just changing the subject...

I seem to remember someone saying that once he had become a Champion, he would give us others a chance... *approaches Gnomon wiggling fingers*

or 1806

that would mean that he is rather long lived....

IT could happen though, look at celine dion's husband, how old is 60?
so you grandfather was born 1806 meaning he had your father in say 1866, and your father had you in 1926 and you are now 75. it is a stretch but plausible!

I am giving you a chance. But you'll have to work at it! And you've been warned about those wiggling fingers already, Titania. Stand in the corner!

*hides fingers behind her back*

*wondering what she'll use to attack Gnomon with instead*

1722

Greebo didn't say he's still alive...

that would mean that greebo is now dead... I think 3 generations strechting over more that 250 year is well stretching it. Greebo has to be alive or else the question would be invalid....

Forget my answer - I hadn't seen tdbiii's explanation - it won't work unless Greebo comes from a family of extremely long-lived cats

Unless of Greebo has travelled back in time and her Grandfather was born in 1980. Now men have had children at the age of 12 as have women so Greebo may be just about to be born later this year or early next year.

Many happy returns for the joyous day.

Alternatively a 21 year old toy boy may be married to Greebo's grandmother for all we know.

Sure, but then Greebo should have said "will be x" instead of "was x".

Assuming that Greebo's father and grandfather are also cats, even the answer I gave of 1892 makes the length of a generation of these cats at least 36 years, which is very long-lived for a cat. So perhaps Greebo is a Highlander Cat (there can be only one) and her grandfather was born in 30 AD. He lived to the grand old age of 6, a good age for a fighting tom. Greebo's father also lived to be 6, so she was born in 36 AD, making her rather older than I had expected.

She certainly doesn't look that old...

*Greebo*

1936?

Nah Greebo's Gdad was BORN in 1892, he was 44 Years old in 1936 - which is 44^2....

Of Course 1806 is also a valid "possibility" for the year of his birth with him being 43 in 1849 or 43^2....