17 cows problem

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Poll
1 vote (10%)
5 votes (50%)
2 votes (20%)
1 vote (10%)
2 votes (20%)
2 votes (20%)
2 votes (20%)
3 votes (30%)
2 votes (20%)
2 votes (20%)

10 members have voted

July 29th, 2016 at 5:12:24 AM permalink
Wizard
Administrator
Member since: Oct 23, 2012
Threads: 239
Posts: 6095
A farmer has 17 cows. He dies, leaving a will that states that the cows will be divided among his three sons according to the following proportions:

Adam: 1/2
Bill: 1/3
Charlie: 1/9

Obviously, there is 1/18 not accounted for.

How should the 17 cows be divided?

The question for the poll is how many cows should Charlie get?
Knowledge is Good -- Emil Faber
July 29th, 2016 at 5:21:03 AM permalink
terapined
Member since: Aug 6, 2014
Threads: 73
Posts: 11791
2
I rounded to a whole number
Sometimes we live no particular way but our own - Grateful Dead "Eyes of the World"
July 29th, 2016 at 5:43:35 AM permalink
Fleastiff
Member since: Oct 27, 2012
Threads: 62
Posts: 7831
Cows? I think its more Bull that is involved in this. Give everyone their proportionate share and cut up a cow to do it.
Then go cut up the lawyer what drafted the will.

Note Cows do not sleep standing up; cow tipping is for City Boys being initiated into a fraternity. Or for dice setters, who will believe anything except math.
July 29th, 2016 at 6:10:41 AM permalink
miplet
Member since: Oct 24, 2012
Threads: 8
Posts: 975
Quote: Wizard
A farmer has 17 cows. He dies, leaving a will that states that the cows will be divided among his three sons according to the following proportions:

Adam: 1/2
Bill: 1/3
Charlie: 1/9

Obviously, there is 1/18 not accounted for.

How should the 17 cows be divided?

The question for the poll is how many cows should Charlie get?

Adam 9
Bill 6
Charlie 2
"...remind me of clue: Colonel Mustard in the billiard room with the candlestick."- Derek Morgan
July 29th, 2016 at 6:14:51 AM permalink
Nareed
Member since: Oct 24, 2012
Threads: 346
Posts: 12545
Quote: Wizard
How should the 17 cows be divided?


Hamburger.
Donald Trump is a one-term LOSER
July 29th, 2016 at 6:48:53 AM permalink
Wizard
Administrator
Member since: Oct 23, 2012
Threads: 239
Posts: 6095
Quote: miplet
Adam 9
Bill 6
Charlie 2


Why are you distributing the 1/18 share not accounted for in the will by the weight of each share?
Knowledge is Good -- Emil Faber
July 29th, 2016 at 6:52:07 AM permalink
terapined
Member since: Aug 6, 2014
Threads: 73
Posts: 11791
Quote: Wizard
Why are you distributing the 1/18 share not accounted for in the will by the weight of each share?


In the words of the People's court Judge Millian that has dealt with these types of issues
"Rough justice" :-)
Sometimes we live no particular way but our own - Grateful Dead "Eyes of the World"
July 29th, 2016 at 7:51:54 AM permalink
odiousgambit
Member since: Oct 28, 2012
Threads: 154
Posts: 5098
even if there were 18 cows, the will does not divide them up right. Probate probably would do the 9,6,2 though. A mathematician apparently would possibly see something I don't LOL. I can't believe the answer is to butcher a cow to divide it
I'm Still Standing, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah [it's an old guy chant for me]
July 29th, 2016 at 10:07:27 AM permalink
Wizard
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Member since: Oct 23, 2012
Threads: 239
Posts: 6095
As I think we've seen in the Prince case, where there is no will, or the will doesn't say, all siblings have equal weight.

So, I submit for consideration that the younger one should get 17*(1/9) + 17*(1/18)*(1/3) = 2.2037 cows.
Knowledge is Good -- Emil Faber
July 29th, 2016 at 11:22:07 AM permalink
Ayecarumba
Member since: Oct 24, 2012
Threads: 89
Posts: 1744
Since the will doesn't provide instructions for the leftover 0.0556 cow, the entire herd should be sold, the proceeds distributed, and the leftover portion added back to the estate. I assume the farmer's wife would get the leftover portion, since she gets the farmhouse and the truck.
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