HTW Berlin Fachbereich 4 Internationaler Studiengang Medieninformatik (Master) Didaktics of Media Winter Term 2024/25

The seventeen camels

A sheik is on his death bed and calls his three sons to him. "I have made provisions in my testament for you to divide my camels amongst yourself. Take care of your mother. ". After the sheik is buried, the sons read the testament: "To my oldest son I will half of my camels. My second son is to have a third of my camels. My youngest son is to have a ninth of my camels."

The father only left them 17 camels, and the sons were standing around arguing amongst themselves how to divide the camels when a wise man came by on a camel. He listened to the story, nodded, and then offered them his own camel. "Here, use my camel, if that will help."

The oldest son takes half of the camels, which is 9 camels. The second son takes his third, which is 6 camels. After the youngest son takes a ninth, which is 2 camels, there is one camel left.

The wise man smiles, wishes them all the best, takes the last camel, and says as he rides off into the East: There, I have helped you divide your inheritance.

How can this be?

 








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Prof. Dr. Debora Weber-Wulff

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