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Fun/Joke Farmer Math………
2015.01.31 05:13
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 This is neat. Who would have thought! A farmer died leaving his 17 horses to his three sons. When his sons opened up the Will it read: My eldest son should get 1/2 (half) of total horses; My middle son should be given 1/3rd (one-third) of the total horses; My youngest son should be given 1/9th (one-ninth) of the total horses. As it's impossible to divide 17 into half or 17 by 3 or 17 by 9, the three sons started to fight with each other. So, they decided to go to a farmer friend who they considered smart, to see if he could work it out for them. The farmer friend read the Will patiently, after giving due thought, he brought one of his own horses over and added it to the 17. That increased the total to 18 horses. Now, he divided the horses according to their fathers Will. Half of 18 = 9. So he gave the eldest son 9 horses. 1/3rd of 18 = 6. So he gave the middle son 6 horses. 1/9th of 18 = 2. So he gave the youngest son 2 horses. Now add up how many horses they have: Eldest son 9 Middle son 6 Youngest son 2 TOTAL IS 17 Now this leaves one horse over, so the farmer friend takes his horse back to his farm. Problem Solved! Moral: The attitude of negotiation and problem solving is to find the 18th horse i.e. the common ground. Once a person is able to find the 18th horse the issue is resolved. It is difficult at times. However, to reach a solution, the first step is to believe that there is a solution. If we think that there is no solution, we won't be able to reach any! That's what I call clever Mathematics.  January 31, 2015> |
Comment 6
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Have a great week end!
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방준재*70
2015.01.31 08:23
I have No Horses, Nor Other Valuables to give to my 3 children.
So I don't have to let them fight over Nothing.
Have a great weekend, Mrs. Cho. -
정관호*63
2015.01.31 09:14
Dear Mrs. Cho:
I want to utilize my grammar school math and solve this question easily without bothering the good-natured farmer:
First here is the share of three sons:
The oldest 1/2,
the second 1/3
the third 1/9
In this case we'll have to get the common denominator(공통분모) which will be 18.
To refresh your calculation technique, you can come up with whole numbers out of 18 divided by the 2, 3, or 9.
So it happens that the oldest share has to be 1/2 X 18 = 9, the second 1/3 X 18 = 6, and the third 1/9 X 18 = 2.
This primitive algebra will always win.
Thank you. -
Dear Dr. 정,
Problem was the father left only 17 horses.
To have the denominator, 18,
they needed to come up with one extra horse.
What a smart and wise farmer their neighbor was!
I never thought of making the number to 18!
(I wasn't much of Algebra student, ㅎ ㅎ )
Would it be possible applying this wise math(metaphor)
to solve the current world's chaos?
(And again, I am not much of politician at all!)
Thank you for your comment, 정선생님. -
노영일*68
2015.02.01 01:58
문과 (文科) 출신과 이과 (理科) 출신의 사고 방식의 차이가 아닐까요? ㅎ ㅎ ㅎ. -
정관호*63
2015.02.01 03:05
Dear Mrs. Cho:
I acklnowledge that my meager math knowledge is no match to the farmer's vast wisdom.
Thank you for enlightening me.
Have a great day.