document.write( "Question 29713: A shoemaker died, leaving behind 17 pairs of men's shoes and boots. In his last will and testament he disposed of them as follows: 1/2 of the collection to his youngest, hardworking, son; 1/3 to the middle son; and 1/9 to \"Lazybones\", the eldest son.
\n" ); document.write( "Understanding that it was not possible to divide the 17 pairs into halves, thirds, and ninths, the exasperated executor of the will tossed in his own footwear, making it a total of eighteen pairs, which he divided as follows: 1/2, or 9 pairs, to the youngest son; 1/3, or 6 pairs, to the middle son; and 1/9, or 2 pairs, to the eldest son.
\n" ); document.write( "Upon realizing that adding up 9, 6, and 2 made 17, the executor elatedly retrieved his own pair of shoes and closed the estate.\r
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Algebra.Com's Answer #16579 by longjonsilver(2297) $\"\"$ $\"About$

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1/2 and 1/3 and 1/9 add up to 17/18 and not to 18/18, so you will get a discrepancy when you try to divide the shoes up.\r
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