Let’s not talk about technology today. Let’s tell a story. Everyone can express their opinions.
In ancient Arabic legends, there is a story about inheritance distribution and mathematical wisdom that people still talk about today. This story not only shows the practical application of mathematics in real life, but also teaches us the wisdom of finding creative solutions to seemingly unsolvable dilemmas. Today, let us explore this story in detail and comprehensively, and draw the essence of wisdom from it.
Story Background: The Dilemma of Wills
In a remote desert kingdom, a wealthy Arab businessman left a will before his death, which stipulated how his 11 sheep should be distributed among his three sons. According to the will, the eldest son should receive half of the sheep, the middle son should receive a quarter, and the youngest son should receive a sixth. The problem is, 11 is not divisible by 2, 4 or 6, which plunges the three sons into confusion and arguments.
Math puzzle: impossible division
The reason why this problem is difficult to solve is that 11 is a prime number and has no factors other than 1 and itself. This means that you cannot divide 11 sheep equally into halves, quarters or sixths without leaving any sheep. The three sons tried various methods of distribution, but were unable to achieve the precise proportions specified in the will.
The emergence of wise men: creative solutions
Just then, a wise man appeared. After understanding the content of the will and the distribution difficulties, he came up with a seemingly simple but extremely wise solution. He temporarily added one of his sheep to the 11 sheep, making the total number of sheep 12.
Distributive Wisdom: Equitable Solutions
With 12 sheep, distribution becomes simple:
- The eldest son gets half, which is 12/2 = 6 sheep.
- The middle son gets a quarter, which is 12/4 = 3 sheep.
- The youngest son gets one-sixth, which is 12/6 = 2 sheep.
When the three sons have received their fair share, the total number of sheep distributed is 6 + 3 + 2 = 11 sheep. In this way, the wise man's sheep is left.
The Wise Man's Sheep: The Perfect Ending
The wise man then took away his own sheep. In this way, each son received his share as specified in the will, and the wise man lost nothing. This solution not only complied with the provisions of the will, but also preserved family harmony.
Mathematics and life: profound revelations
This story teaches us much more than a simple math problem. It teaches us not to give up thinking and exploration when faced with seemingly unsolvable dilemmas. Sometimes, the answer to a problem is hidden in the question, which requires us to break out of the traditional thinking mode and look at the problem from a different perspective.
Conclusion: The power of creative thinking
The story of the 11 sheep in the will of a wealthy Arab businessman is not only a puzzle about mathematics and logic, it also shows the importance of creative thinking and wisdom in solving problems. This way of thinking applies equally to our daily lives and work. When we encounter difficult situations, let us remember this story to inspire our inner wise men to find those creative and equitable solutions.
This story may be just a legend, but its educational significance and practical value are real. Next time you encounter a difficult problem, think about this story of a wealthy Arab businessman, and maybe you will find an unexpected solution.