OLD ARAB PARADOX
A wealthy Arab who at death left his stable of seventeen
beautiful horses to his three sons. He specified that the eldest
was to have one half the horses, the next one third, and the
youngest one ninth. The three young heirs were in despair,
for they obviously could not divide seventeen horses this way
without calling in the butcher. They finally sought the advice
of an old and wise friend, who promised to help them.
HOW DID HE HELP THEM
ANSWER FOR THE OLD ARAB PARADOX
He arrived at the stable the next day, leading one of his
own horses. This he added to the seventeen and directed
the brothers to make their choices. The eldest took one
half of the eighteen, or nine; the next, one third
of the eighteen, or six; and the youngest, one ninth of
the eighteen, or two. When all seventeen of the
original horses had been chosen, the old man took his own
horse and departed.