The Famous 17 Camels Problem: A Mathematical Puzzle
If you're familiar with mathematical puzzles, you might have heard of the famous "17 Camels Problem". It's a classic puzzle that has been around for centuries, and it's still widely used today to test people's problem-solving skills. In this article, we'll explore the puzzle and provide the solution.
The Problem Statement
The problem goes like this:
"A father leaves 17 camels to his three sons. The will states that the eldest son should get 1/2 of the camels, the middle son should get 1/3, and the youngest son should get 1/9. However, thewill also states that the camels cannot be divided or cut into pieces. How can the sons divide the camels among themselves according to their father's will?"
The Solution
At first glance, the problem seems impossible to solve. How can you divide 17 camels into halves, thirds, and ninths without cutting them into pieces? The answer lies in using a clever trick.
Here's one way to solve the problem:
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Find a common denominator: The least common denominator (LCD) of 2, 3, and 9 is 18. So, we can multiply each of the fractions by 18 to get:
- Eldest son: 1/2 × 18 = 9
- Middle son: 1/3 × 18 = 6
- Youngest son: 1/9 × 18 = 2
However, this would require 9 + 6 + 2 = 17 camels, which we don't have.
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Introduce a "neutral" camel: Let's introduce a neutral camel that can be borrowed by each son to fulfill their requirements. This camel will be returned to the herd at the end.
- Eldest son: 9 camels (8 from the herd + 1 borrowed)
- Middle son: 6 camels (5 from the herd + 1 borrowed)
- Youngest son: 2 camels (1 from the herd + 1 borrowed)
Now, each son has fulfilled their requirement, and we've used a total of 8 + 5 + 1 = 14 camels from the herd. We have 3 camels left over, which can be returned to the herd.
Return the borrowed camel: The borrowed camel can now be returned to the herd, leaving each son with:
* Eldest son: 8 camels
* Middle son: 5 camels
* Youngest son: 1 camel
And that's it! The sons have successfully divided the 17 camels among themselves according to their father's will.
Conclusion
The 17 Camels Problem is a classic example of a mathematical puzzle that requires creative thinking and problem-solving skills. By introducing a neutral camel and using fractions, we can solve the puzzle and ensure that each son receives their rightful share of the camels.
