Once upon a time there lived an old man. He had three sons. One day, he called them together
and said, "Sons, I will die soon. To my oldest son I give half my camels, to my second, one-third
(三分之一), and to my youngest, one-ninth (九分之一)." Soon after that he died.
     Now, the old man had seventeen camels, and the three brothers didn't know how to do as their
father said. They thought a long time about the problem, and it seemed that they must either kill some
of the camels and cut them into pieces, or disobey their father. At last they went to their father's old
friend and asked for his advice. As soon as he heard their story, he said, "I will help you. I was a
good friend of your father's. I am old. I have only one camel, but take it-it is yours." The three sons
thanked the old man and took his camel. Now they found it was easy to do as their father wished,
The oldest took half that was nine camels; the second took one-third, that was six; and the youngest
took one-ninth, that was two.
     After each had got his camels, they found that there was still a camel there. So, to show their thanks
to their father's friend, they gave the camel back to him.