Simple classic puzzle: The inheritance

[BMAD]

An Arab sheikh is old and must will his fortune to one of his two sons. He makes a proposition. His two sons will ride their camels in a race, and whichever camel crosses the finish line last will win the fortune for its owner. During the race, the two brothers wander aimlessly for days, neither willing to cross the finish line. In desperation, they ask a wise man for advice. He tells them something; then the brothers leap onto the camels and charge toward the finish line. What did the wise man say?

[vigmeister]

The standard solution of switching camels I've heard before, so I put myself in the shoes of the old man.

If I were the old man, I would ask them to play tug of war with their camels (if 'crossing' the finish line is a problem, then I would install (by foot) and use a pulley on the other side of the finish line for the tug of war

This does not have anything to do with the question, but I found it interesting that even VERY old questions can be entertaining!

Edited May 14, 2013 by vigmeister