它 用 生 命 保 卫 家 园 。 主 人 出 门 ， 伴 侣 相 随 。 好 人 见 之 ， 自 觉 离 开 。 坏 人 见 之 ， 其 言 不 逊 。 ( A
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它用生命保卫家园。主人出门，伴侣相随。好人见之，自觉离开。坏人见之，其言不逊。(A LOCK. WHEN A GENTLEMAN SEES IT, HE KNOWS THE MASTER IS AWAY AND HE WILL LEAVE AND COME BACK LATER. WHEN A VILLAIN SEES IT, HE WILL PRY IT OPEN AND BREAK INTO THE HOUSE.) BASED ON THE RIDDLE, WE CAN COME UP WITH THE FOLLOWING EQUATION: X/6 + X/12 + X/7 + 5 + X/2 + 4 = X WHERE X IS DIOPHANTUS'S AGE AT THE TIME OF HIS DEATH. SOLVING FOR X GIVES A VALUE OF 84 ONE THING JULIE COULD DO IS FREEZE A TRAY OF ICE-CUBES, AND TURN THE TRAY OF ICE UPSIDE DOWN IN HER FREEZER. WHEN SHE COMES HOME, SHE SHOULD CHECK THE TRAY. IF THE ICE CUBES ARE STILL IN THE TRAY, THE FOOD IS SAFE TO EAT. IF THE TRAYS ARE EMPTY, IT'S TIME TO CLEAN OUT THE FREEZER. SHE WILL HAVE TO MAKE A JUDGMENT CALL IF THE ICE-CUBES ARE ONLY SLIGHTLY THAWED DUH, THE DOOR THAT LEADS TO THE TIGER THAT HASN'T EATEN FOR THREE MONTHS BECAUSE WOULDN'T HE HAVE STARVED TO DEATH BY NOW?