A Tale of Fractional Beasts

What better way to enjoy Fractions than through Literature?Adapted from Malba Tahan (1938)

Mr. J. Lingley Grade 8 Mathematics

The Man who CountedA story about the episode of the 35 camels that were to be divided between three Arab brothers. How a a young Beremiz Samir, (The Man who Counted), made an apparently impossible division that left the quarrelling brothers completely satisfied.

The Man who Counted

We had been traveling for a few hours without stopping when there occurred an episode worth retelling. When my traveling companion, Beremiz put to use his talents as an esteemed mathematician.

Close to an old half abandoned Inn, we saw three men arguing heatedly beside a herd of camel. Amid the shouts and insults, the men gestured wildly in fierce debate and we could hear their angry cries…

The Man who Counted

“It cannot be!”

“That is robbery!”

“I do not agree!

The intelligent Beremiz asked them why they were quarrelling.

The Man who Counted

“We are brothers,” the oldest explained. “And we received According to the sincere wishes of my father, half of them belong to me, and

Unfortunately, we do not know how to make the division, and whatever one of us suggests, the other two disputes.

We have come up with many solutions, but none of them have been successful.

35

The Man who Counted

“We have been thinking. Half of neither precise number. So, how can we make the division?”

35

STOP

The Man who Counted“Very simple,” said Beremiz, the expert mathematician. “I promise to make the division fairly, but let me add to the inheritance of 35 camels, my own, splendid beast of a camel that brought me here to such an opportune moment to practice math. 35At this point, one skeptical brother intervened. “You will not be able to continue on your journey without your camel!”

“Do not worry my friend,” Beremiz said in a whisper. “I know exactly what I am doing. Allow me to give you my camel and you will see the results.

The Man who Counted

Beremiz had said this with such confidence, that without the slightest hesitation the brothers allowed his camel to be added to the inheritance. His beautiful camel, lovingly named Jamal, was added to the number that was to be divided between the three brothers.

36

“My friends,” he said, “I am going to make a fair and accurate division of the camels as you can see, now the number is

The Man who Counted 36

one-half one-third one-ninth

The Man who Counted 36

one-half

one-third one-ninth

Turning to the eldest of the brothers, Beremiz spoke: “You would have had half of You now have half of nothing to complain about this because you are gaining by this division.

18

The Man who Counted 36

one-half one-third

one-ninth

Turning to the second heir, he continued, “And you, Hamed, you would have received that is 11 and some. Now you will receive one-third of by this division.

18 12

The Man who Counted 36

one-half one-third one-ninth

Finally he spoke to the youngest, “And you young Harim, according to your father’s last wishes, you were to receive part of another. Nevertheless, I will now give you one-ninthsubstantially and should be grateful to me for it.”

18 12 4

The Man who Counted 36

one-half one-third one-ninth

Now brimming with confidence, Beremiz concluded with this, “By this advantageous division, which has benefited everyone, the next, and 18 + 12 + 4 = 34

Of the

One of them clearly belongs to me as I sacrificed my dear Jamal for this division.

18 12 4

The Man who CountedThe other clearly should go to my friend with whom I am travelling as payment for my resolving your complicated inheritance to everyone’s satisfaction.

“Stranger, you are a most intelligent man,” exclaimed the oldest of the three brothers, “and we accept your solution with the confidence that it was achieved with justice and equity.”

Beremiz and his traveling companion continued their trek through the dry terrain of the desert. They were very happy about how math benefited them during their journey.

fin