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Cows (Posted on 2002-05-06) Difficulty: 2 of 5
A few weeks ago a farmer died. And the will he left behind... fortunately his three sons had had a good education. His will was as follows:
  • The first son would get 1/2 of the cows,
  • The second son would get 1/3 of the cows and
  • The third son would get 1/9 of the cows.
At first, everything seems fine. But unfortunately, the farmer had 17 cows. And pieces of cows weren't any good to the sons.

But, since the sons had a good education, they came up with a solution. They lent a cow from the neighbour. Why? Then they had 18:

  • 18 * 1/2 = 9 for the 1st son,
  • 18 * 1/3 = 6 for the second son and
  • 18 * 1/9 = 2 for the third son.
'But what about the neighbour,' you may say. Well, since 9 + 6 + 2 is 17, the cow that was left over went back to the neighbour.

What do you think about the sons' education?

  Submitted by charl    
Rating: 3.2222 (9 votes)
Solution: (Hide)
The sons didn't get their intelligence from their father: 1/2 + 1/3 + 1/9 = 9/18 + 6/18 + 2/18 = 17/18

In other words, the farmer left 1/18 of his inheritance undivided!

Comments: ( You must be logged in to post comments.)
  Subject Author Date
Some ThoughtsPuzzle Thoughts K Sengupta2023-01-18 00:04:15
SolutionCharles Archibals2007-01-18 13:00:47
Questionumm....Rex2005-02-09 14:02:59
POST SOLUTION TIDBITAriel2004-02-28 23:47:55
No Subjectnellie2003-07-26 07:02:43
Solution1/18Tim Axoy2003-04-01 02:46:45
Good oneGautam2003-01-20 21:23:04
Hints/TipsThe missing 1/18 heirJim Lyon2002-09-14 18:55:02
InheritanceHalf-Mad2002-05-13 00:57:15
TroubleChris2002-05-07 05:28:49
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