[Guest]

An old farmer died and left 17 cows to his three sons. In his will, the farmer stated that his oldest son should get 1/2, his middle son should get 1/3, and his youngest son should get 1/9 of all the cows on the farm. The sons, who did not want to end up with half cows, sat for days trying to figure out how many cows each of them should get.

One day, their neighbor came by to see how they were doing after their father's death. The three sons told him their problem. After thinking for a while, the neighbor said: "I'll be right back!" He went away, and when he came back, the three sons could divide the cows according to their father's will, and in such a way that each of them got a whole number of cows.

What was the neighbor's solution?

The neighbor brought something back with him.

[Guest]

An old farmer died and left 17 cows to his three sons. In his will, the farmer stated that his oldest son should get 1/2, his middle son should get 1/3, and his youngest son should get 1/9 of all the cows on the farm. The sons, who did not want to end up with half cows, sat for days trying to figure out how many cows each of them should get.

One day, their neighbor came by to see how they were doing after their father's death. The three sons told him their problem. After thinking for a while, the neighbor said: "I'll be right back!" He went away, and when he came back, the three sons could divide the cows according to their father's will, and in such a way that each of them got a whole number of cows.

What was the neighbor's solution?

The neighbor brought something back with him.

he brought an extra cow to bring the total cows to 18

eldest gets 8

middle gets 6

youngest gets 2

totalling 18 cows

[Guest]

oldest gets 8 cows the middle gets 6 and the youngest gets 2 as the neighbor brings an extra cow back

[Guest]

Rock on! You both got it.

[Guest]

An old farmer died and left 17 cows to his three sons. In his will, the farmer stated that his oldest son should get 1/2, his middle son should get 1/3, and his youngest son should get 1/9 of all the cows on the farm. The sons, who did not want to end up with half cows, sat for days trying to figure out how many cows each of them should get...

(Emphasis added.)

He could've brought a picture back with him. In it, you could see all 17 cows standing on his own farm. Therefore, each son should inherit a whole number of cows: 0

[Guest]

he brings an extra cow with him so the first gets 9 his second son gets 6 and the last gets 2 and the neighbour takes his cow back with him !!

right?

[EventHorizon]

the neighbor brings an extra cow of his back.

the total is now 18.

the oldest son gets 9 (1/2 of 18)

the middle son gets 6 (1/3 of 18)

the youngest son gets 2 (1/9 of 18)

the neighbor then takes back his own cow.

9+6+2+1 = 18

looks like talha posted before I clicked reply.

put answers in spoiler blocks so other people can look through the posts for any clarification and still be able to figure it out on their own.

[Guest]

An old farmer died and left 17 cows to his three sons. In his will, the farmer stated that his oldest son should get 1/2, his middle son should get 1/3, and his youngest son should get 1/9 of all the cows on the farm. The sons, who did not want to end up with half cows, sat for days trying to figure out how many cows each of them should get.

One day, their neighbor came by to see how they were doing after their father's death. The three sons told him their problem. After thinking for a while, the neighbor said: "I'll be right back!" He went away, and when he came back, the three sons could divide the cows according to their father's will, and in such a way that each of them got a whole number of cows.

What was the neighbor's solution?

The neighbor brought something back with him.

This was actually an easy one.

Neighbor gives a cow "on loan". Now, with 18 cows, the math works. Son #1 gets 1/2 or 9 cows; #2 gets 1/3 or 6; #3 gets 1/9 or 2. The neighbor then gets his "on loan" cow back. 9+6+2=17 (just as the farmer originally had), with the neighbor's cow (#18) given back.

[Guest]

I just noticed that most of us, myself included, can't add

[Guest]

The addition wasn't turning out right, but you got the idea that the neighbor brought an extra cow. That's the correct answer.

[Guest]

An old farmer died and left 17 cows to his three sons. In his will, the farmer stated that his oldest son should get 1/2, his middle son should get 1/3, and his youngest son should get 1/9 of all the cows on the farm. The sons, who did not want to end up with half cows, sat for days trying to figure out how many cows each of them should get.

One day, their neighbor came by to see how they were doing after their father's death. The three sons told him their problem. After thinking for a while, the neighbor said: "I'll be right back!" He went away, and when he came back, the three sons could divide the cows according to their father's will, and in such a way that each of them got a whole number of cows.

What was the neighbor's solution?

The neighbor brought something back with him.

He brought a cow back with him. Then, all the sons add up to a total of 17 cows, and the neighbor gets to keep his cow.

[Guest]

The common denominator for 1/2, 1/3 and 1/9 is 54.

Therefore, according to the father's will,

the oldest son would get (27/54) of the 17 cows,

the middle son would get (18/54) of the 17 cows, and

the youngest son would get (6/54) of the 17 cows.

27/((27+18+6)/17) = 9, the oldest son's inheritance;

18/((27+18+6)/17) = 6, the middle son's inheritance;

6/((27+18+6)/17) = 2, the youngest son's inheritance.

No need for the neighbor to go fetch a cow.

Edited August 12, 2010 by Dej Mar

[Guest]

I like my answer. The neighbor brings a meat grinder or a butcher's knife. They all butcher/grind up all the cows and apportion the meat according to the portions. As a gift for figgering it out, they give him several new york strip steaks. Yum.

[dark_magician_92]

An old farmer died and left 17 cows to his three sons. In his will, the farmer stated that his oldest son should get 1/2, his middle son should get 1/3, and his youngest son should get 1/9 of all the cows on the farm. The sons, who did not want to end up with half cows, sat for days trying to figure out how many cows each of them should get.

One day, their neighbor came by to see how they were doing after their father's death. The three sons told him their problem. After thinking for a while, the neighbor said: "I'll be right back!" He went away, and when he came back, the three sons could divide the cows according to their father's will, and in such a way that each of them got a whole number of cows.

What was the neighbor's solution?

The neighbor brought something back with him.

9,6 and 2

Edited January 9, 2011 by dark_magician_92