Born in 1640, French mathematician Jacques Ozanam is not particularly known for his own discoveries, but rather for the clarity and educational qualities of his numerous works. We owe him in particular the publication of the most precise trigonometric and logarithmic tables of his time, a mathematical dictionary as well as various methods and specialized courses aimed some at sailors or men of war, others at surveyors, bricklayers or carpenters.
But his most popular work undoubtedly remains Math and physics recreation.First published in 1694 before going through numerous reissues. There are dozens of riddles, curiosities, games, eccentric inventions and loose thoughts about all areas of mathematics. The first part is about “the most curious problems & [des] most interesting truths of arithmetic. Among the classics of the genre, fair share puzzles occupy a prominent place. Here, for example, is his famous barrel problem.
“Distribute twenty-one barrels among three people, seven full, seven empty and seven half full, so that each one has the same amount of wine and barrels. »
One of the advantages of this type of puzzle is that there are generally several ways to approach them, some more effective or elegant than others, depending on each person’s criteria and tastes. Of course, it is always possible to attack them head-on, by successive attempts or by methodically listing all possible divisions. But we can also find great satisfaction in bringing the solution to light through direct reasoning, leaving no room for trial and error or chance.
Here is another problem in the barrel for which I invite you not only to try to solve it, but also to look for the most satisfactory path (to your liking) towards an equitable distribution.
Three people must share nine barrels. These barrels contain 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 12 and 14 kilograms (kg) of chocolate respectively. How to share them so that everyone has the same amount of chocolate and barrels?
Find previous puzzles by clicking here
