September 2020
Problem of the Month

Dividing the Meal
Submitted by Brijesh Dave

Three men were travelling in a railway compartment.   One of them was a very wealthy businessman.   The other two had food with them and invited the businessman to join them in their meal.

One man had brought 5 chapatis and the other had 3.   The three of them ate together and the food was shared equally.

On parting, the businessman gave 8 gold coins to the two men, as a token of his appreciation of their hospitality, and told them to share the coins in proportion to their contribution of food.

An argument started.   The man who had brought 5 chapatis felt that he should get 6 coins and the other man should get 2 coins.   But the man who had brought 3 chapatis felt that he should get 3 coins and the other man should get 5 coins.

How many gold coins should the man who had brought 5 chapatis get and how many coins should the man who had brought 3 chapatis get?

(Note: A chapati is Indian bread round in shape like a circle made of wheat flour)

You must explain your answer with mathematics and you may only submit one answer.

Solution to the Problem:

The man who contributed 5 chapatis should get 7 coins and the man who contributed 3 chapatis should get 1 coin.

There were a total of 8 chapatis, so each man ate 2 2/3 chapatis.

The man with 5 chapatis ate 2 2/3, so he contributed 2 1/3 chapatis or 7/3 chapatis.

The man with 3 chapatis ate 2 2/3, so he contributed 1/3 chapatis.

Therefore they should be paid in the ratio of 7/3 : 1/3 or 7:1.

Correctly solved by:

1. Brijesh Dave	Mumbai City, Maharashtra, India
2. Colin (Yowie) Bowey	Beechworth, Victoria, Australia
3. Ivy Joseph	Pune, Maharashtra, India
4. Veena Mg	Bangalore, Karnataka, India

Send any comments or questions to: David Pleacher