A man of 40 dies. He leaves 3 sons and 17 camels. No camels are pregnant. His will decrees the 12 year old gets 1/2, the 13 year old gets 1/3, and the 19 year old gets the remaining 1/9. 1/2 = 9, 1/3 = 6, 1/9 =2. 9+6+2 = 17. So why was it even?
2006-08-13 10:57:22 · 10 answers · asked by cello_drama 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Mathematics
1/2+1/3+1/9=17/18, so there is 1/18 of the 17 camels that is not shared out. That amounts to 17/18 of a camel.
1/2 of 17 = 8 1/2, not 9
1/3 of 17 = 5 2/3, not 6
1/9 of 17= 1 8/9, not 2
8 1/2+5 2/3+1 8/9 = 16 1/18
This agrees with my first statement.
Your calculations are wrong.
But I cannot see a trick, it just seems to be in error.
2006-08-13 11:24:58 · answer #1 · answered by hi_patia 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Because 1/2 + 1/3 + 1/9 is not 1.
1/2 = 9/18
1/3 = 6/18
1/9 = 2/18
9+6+2=17
So the will attributed only 17/18 of the herd.
If the man had 18 camels, then one would be left.
The man wanted the 12 year old son to get 1/2 of the herd, so he should have gotten 8 and a half, the 13 year old should have gotten 5 2/3, and the last one 1 8/9 camel, leaving 0.9444 camels (1/18 of 17) unattributed.
2006-08-13 11:13:43 · answer #2 · answered by Vincent G 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Because he was 40 when he died. And 12 + 13 + 19 does not equal 40.. duh!
But 3 + 17 does equal 40 divided by 2 - wahoo!
No seriously:
1/2 of 18 is 9
1/3 of 18 is 6
1/9 of 18 is 2
so he must have had 18 camels to begin with.
also 1/2 + 1/3 + 1/9 is not equal to 1 it is 17/18. So there is one camel left, it is not even.
2006-08-13 11:10:32 · answer #3 · answered by none2perdy 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because 1/2 + 1/3 + 1/9 = 9/18 + 6/18 + 2/18 = 17/18.
Also,
18/2 = 9
18/3 = 6
18/9 = 2
That's the best I can think of right now.
2006-08-13 11:42:43 · answer #4 · answered by Jay B 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If one sone gets 1/2 and the other 1/3, then the remaining amount would be 1/6 not 1/9.
2006-08-13 11:31:01 · answer #5 · answered by Elim 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
1/2 + 1/3 +1/9
9/18 + 6/18 +2/18 =17/18 not 1
2006-08-13 17:47:15 · answer #6 · answered by PC_Load_Letter 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
3 sons, 17 camels
son A = 1/2 = 8.5 camels
The combination of the other two have to equal 8.5 camels.
Unfortunately, 1/3 + 1/9 does not equal 1/2. It equals 4/9.
Bad estate planning.
2006-08-13 11:45:35 · answer #7 · answered by MenifeeManiac 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What exactly is your question? This is an old problem, you cant obtain the half of 17 so you do the half or 18, etc
And the sum is 17 because
1/2 + 1/3 + 1/9 = 17/18
Ana
2006-08-13 11:13:05 · answer #8 · answered by MathTutor 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because he left the sons the 17 camels.
2006-08-13 11:03:23 · answer #9 · answered by Moxie1313 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
One of the sons was a camel.
2006-08-13 11:10:32 · answer #10 · answered by Simmi Reds 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋