The Camel Family (Math Problem)

[kejedo]

AN AUSTRALIAN CAMEL FAMILY

By Drom E. Derry

 

An Australian man died and left his herd of 17 camels to his three sons. The man was a camel trainer and all three sons raced camels in the Camel Cup at Alice Springs. In his will, he said his first son should get half of the camels, his middle son should get a third of the camels, and his youngest son should get a ninth of the camels. 

 

But 17 doesn’t divide by two, or by three, or by nine. This difficulty dragged the brothers into an intense negotiation in which tempers began to be strained and flared.

Desperate and unable to solve their problem, they consulted their mother, who was a retired math teacher and a camel trainer (in her own right.) She had one cherished camel, in a private stall, that she tended to and rode, but she did not enter her camel into races. It was her beloved pet.

 

After listening to her sons carefully, the mother decided to donate her camel to them. The brothers were quite surprised because they knew their mother pampered her lone camel and never raced it. Out of respect for their mother, they agreed to accept her camel and her suggestion for a solution.

 

Now with eighteen camels, the first son takes half of eighteen or nine camels; the middle son takes a third of eighteen or six camels; the youngest son takes a ninth of eighteen, which is two camels. 

9 + 6 + 2 = 17

They have one camel left over, which they give back to their wise mother.

 

All along, the brothers had everything they needed to solve their problem in a way that would leave everybody satisfied. Instead, distrust built, and tempers were strained. And they couldn’t see what was right in front of them.

 

A lot of conflicts today are like the conflict between the three brothers and the 17 camels. At first, they seem impossible to resolve. No one could see an apparent solution. Yet, with a wise perspective and a maybe little mathematics, we can find a way to solve many of our problems fairly and satisfy all interests.

 

How did the mother figure out the solution?

p.s. As a former owner of a thoroughbred horse, it is my understanding that Australia has the most ethical camel races.