Equal Sharing Puzzle: How Much More Did the Wife Receive Than the Son?

Introduction

In this interesting puzzle, a wealthy man divides his fortune of 92,000 into equal parts and distributes it among his family and charities. The challenge is to determine how much more money the wife received compared to the son.

Problem Statement

A wealthy man divides his fortune of 92,000 into 8 equal parts. He gives 4 portions to his wife, 1 portion to his son, and the remaining parts equally among 3 charities. The task is to find out how much more money the wife received compared to the son.

Step-by-Step Solution

Step 1: Divide the Total Fortune

The total fortune is 92,000. It is divided into 8 equal parts.

1/8 of 92,000 92,000 ÷ 8 11,500

Thus, each part is worth 11,500.

Step 2: Calculate the Wife's Share

The wife receives 4 portions.

Wife's share 4 × 11,500 46,000

Step 3: Calculate the Son's Share

The son receives 1 portion.

Son's share 1 × 11,500 11,500

Step 4: Calculate the Excess Amount

To find out how much more money the wife received, we subtract the son's share from the wife's share.

Excess amount 46,000 - 11,500 34,500

Conclusion

The wife received 34,500 more than the son.

Additional Insights

This problem demonstrates the importance of understanding fractions and their applications in real-life scenarios. It also highlights the relationships between different parts of a whole and the mathematical operations required to solve similar puzzles.

Mathematical Concepts Involved:

Division of a whole into equal parts Multiplication of fractions Subtraction to find the difference between quantities

Understanding these concepts can help in various real-world applications, such as financial planning, budgeting, and inheritance distribution.

Conclusion

The wife received 34,500 more than the son, which is a clear demonstration of the mathematical principles involved in such puzzles. This problem not only highlights the importance of arithmetic and algebraic reasoning but also underlines the practical importance of these skills in everyday life.

Keywords: equality, division, sharing, inheritance, mathematics