All elephants are to be divided without leaving anyone of them behind. Can you solve it?

Question

A king dies after writing an agreement to divide the elephant power to his three sons, the first son has to get 1/2 of elephants, second son gets 3/4th of remaining elephants left after giving away to the first son, third son gets 1/2th of remaining elephants left after giving away to the second son. The total number of elephants are 15. All elephants are to be divided without leaving anyone of them behind. Can you solve it?

Answer 1

1. Add 1 Elephant (borrowed from lender) to 15 Elephant for solution purposes. Latter return this elephant to the lender.
2. New total shall be 16.
3. 1st son gets 1/2 of total 16 = 8 Elephants. [Remaining = 8 Elephants]
4. 2nd son gets 3/4 of remaining 8 = 8 x 3/4= 6 Elephants. [Remaining = 2 Elephants]
5. 3rd son gets 1/2 of remaining 2 = 2 x 1/2 = 1 Elephant. [Remaining = 1 Elephant]
6. Return the left out Elephant to lender.
   ANS: 1st son get 8 Elephants, 2nd son get 6 Elephants and 3rd son get 1 Elephant. [ total = 8+6+1 = 15].

Answer 2

Borrow and add one elephant (to be taken back after division). Give 8 to the first son and 6 to the second son. Left with 2, give 1 to the third son. Fifteen elephants are distributed and return the last one left to the one from whom it was borrowed.

Answer 3

8,6,1
I will add my ELEPHANT also along with those 15 elephants , and the total will be 16
The first son will get 1/2 of 16 = 8
The second will get 3/4 of balance 8 = 6
The third will get 1/2 of the balance, and that is =1
The on left out is mine, and I will take back.

Answer 4

Add 1 elephant to 15, do the exercise, it comes to
8 + 6 + 1 =15 and then take back the added 1 elephant.