Brain Freeze Quiz #3

The first correct answer to the quiz below will win the following:





Ahab & Omar

After traveling across the burning hot desert for hour after hour, two Arab bedouins, Ahab and Omar stopped at a small oasis for dinner. As they were preparing for their meal, a camel trader also came into the oasis. Ralph, the camel trader, was starving and asked Ahab and Omar to share their meal with him. He explained that he had money and would gladly pay for his share of the meal. Islamic custom compelled Ahab and Omar to share their bounty with Ralph, so the bedouins laid out their food - five loaves of bread from Ahab, and three from Omar. After dividing the bread into three equal shares, the three had their meal. Rescued from starvation, the grateful Ralph took out eight gold coins and placed them in front of Ahab and Omar. Thinking he was being fair, Ahab took five and gave three to Omar. Omar thought about it a bit and then said he believed he and Ahab should share the gold pieces equally since they had both shared their bread with Ralph. After much discussion (lasting the remaining five days of their journey) they still could not come to agreement as to how the gold pieces should be divided. After arriving in Khartoum, however, they agreed to seek the advice of a sage and further agreed to divide the gold coins in any manner he might decree. The wise sage listened to their story and after just a moment's thought pronounced his finding.

Was Ahab or Omar right; or, if both were wrong, how did the wise sage tell them to split the gold coins? Prove your answer using elemental math.

Great puzzle!

Very nice first day covers! - Hey I think justabeginner collects these!

Ahab gave Ralph a total of 1 2/3 loaves (5 x 1/3)
Omar gave Ralph a total of 1 loaf ( 3 x 1/3)

This means that Ahab gave Ralph 1 and 2/3 more bread than Omar.

Therefore if Ahab takes 5 coins and Omar 3 coins, then Ahab is taking 1 and 2/3 more coins than Omar. Which seems fair to me.

So I am saying that the wise Sage said Ahab is correct.

Steve

Haha, if I'm correct, Ahab should receive 7 gold coins and Omar only 1. This is because each of them should receive 2 2/3 of the eight loafs... Which means that in order to let Ralph have a fair share, Ahab had to sacrifice 5 - 2 2/3 or his bread, meaning that he now gave Raplh 2 1/3 of his share, while Omar with three pieces only had to give 1/3 to Raplh to make Raplh get 2 1/3 + 1/3 equal to 2 2/3 , which threfore make all their shares equal. Ratio of Ahab:Omar in terms of their share is 7:1 because 2 2/3:1/3 = 7:1. Therefore Ahab should get 7 pieces of gold and Omar only 1. That is what the Sage should say. I think.

JAB is correct!

I guess I'll be shipping another prize down under!

Ahab had five loaves. If he divided them into third's he would provide 15 pieces.
Omar had three loaves. If he divided them into third's he would provide 9 pieces, for a total of 24.

Each man ate 1/3 of the bread, or 8 pieces.

Both were wrong!

Ahab gave Ralph 7 pieces (his 15 minus the 8 he ate). Omar gave Ralph 1 piece (his 9 minus the 8 he ate). Therefore, Ahab should receive 7 pieces of gold, and Omar only 1.

BTW, Charle also had the correct answer, but he entered off site since he won my last quiz and wanted to give someone else a chance. to both of you!

CONGRATULATIONS justabeginner! You rock!

Well done JAB.

Thanks for the contest, Greg.

Steve

Woohoo..! Now awaiting Brain Free number 4... I love these things.. :D Makes me think for a while.. :D Thanks everyone and thx Greg for the contest.. :D

Owh and Greg, you didn't just bin my address again did you?

Actually I did JAB. Please send it again and I'll just file you with my kids, my sister, my lawyer, and my rich uncle who doesn't like me! Apparently I'll be sending you a bunch of goodies!

Lolll... You DIDDDDD NOTTTTT.... Ok, I will send it again, just remember to paste my address on your forehead, so I don't need to send it to you again..

Greg, they arrived today..... AWESOME.... That pretty much says it... Thx so much...