Solution

(related to Problem: The Farmer and His Sheep)

The farmer had one sheep only! If he divided this sheep (which is best done by weight) into two parts, making one part two-thirds and the other part one-third, then the difference between these two numbers is the same as the difference between their squares — that is, one-third. Any two fractions will do if the denominator equals the sum of the two numerators.


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References

Project Gutenberg

  1. Dudeney, H. E.: "Amusements in Mathematics", The Authors' Club, 1917

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