A POSER IN ARITHMETIC

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Apr 17, 1901

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 27, No. 16.

A POSER IN ARITHMETIC.

A Chinaman died, leaving his property by will to his three sons, as follows:—

“To Fuen-huen, the oldest, one-half thereof; to Nu-pin, his second son, one-third thereof; and to Ding-bat, his youngest, one-ninth thereof.”

When the property was inventoried it was found to consist of nothing more or less than seventeen elephants; and it puzzled these three heirs how to divide the property according to the terms of the will without chopping up seventeen elephants and thereby seriously impairing their value. Finally they applied to a wise neighbor, Suen-punk, for advice. Suen-punk had an elephant of his own. He drove it into the yard with the seventeen and said:—

“Now we will suppose your father left these eighteen elephants. Fuen-huen, take your half and depart.”

So Fuen-huen took nine elephants and went his way.

“Now, Nu-pin,” said the wise man, “take your third and go.”

So Nu-pin took six elephants and traveled.

“Now, Ding-bat,” said the wise man, “take your ninth and be gone.”

So Ding-bat took two elephants and vamoosed. Then Suen-punk took his own elephant and drove him home again.

Query: Was the property divided according to the terms of the will?—Selected.