17 Camels and 3 Sons Story

This is a story of three brothers and 17 camels left by their father. They were unable to divide the camels the way their father wanted. They asked a wise man to solve the issue. He did it with his wisdom and intelligence. What did the wise man do? Find out by reading this story.

The 3 Sons and 17 Camels

Once there was a village in the middle of a desert. A man lived with his 3 sons and 17 camels. The camels were the only means of income for the man and his sons.

The man was not well. He passed away leaving 17 camels to his sons. The sons paid the last rituals to their deceased father. All his father’s possessions were divided equally. The only problem was with the 17 camels.

The man and his 17 camels

His father stated in his will that the eldest son will get half of the camels. The second son will get one-third of the camels. The youngest son will get one-ninth of the camels.

They were confused as 17 is a prime number and it cannot be distributed properly. They could not find a solution even if they thought together for days.

The Wise Man’s Solution

They were tired of looking for solutions. Eventually, they thought of seeking a solution from a wise man.

The wise man lived in another village. He listened to the brothers peacefully. He took a few moments to collect his thoughts and added one of his camels to the ones they brought.

He then said, “There are 18 camels now. The elder brother will get half of the camels. It means he will get 9 camels from the herd.”

He added, “The middle brother will get one-third of these camels. It means he will get 6. The total camels distributed are 15.”

He concluded, “The youngest brother will get one-ninth of the total camels. One-ninth of 18 camels are 2. The total number of camels distributed is 17 now. Only one camel is left. It is mine as I added it before the distribution.”

The brothers realised how intelligent his father was. They were satisfied with the distribution process. The brothers took their camels and left for their home.

All the other possessions were distributed equally and the camels were distributed according to their father’s wish.

Three sons returning with their camels

Moral of the Story

The moral of the 17 Camels And 3 Sons story in English is that you can bring out a solution to any problem when you think properly. This story also explains that a solution can also be solved when people come to a common ground.

The mutual understanding of the brothers along with the wise man’s solutions was perfect to solve the division of camels among them. This story also depicts that any problem can be solved if we understand it well.

Tips for Parents

Read the 17 Camels And 3 Sons story PDF to the children. This is a unique story that involves simple mathematical calculations. Parents can pose questions before ending the story. Let the children think of a solution. It will make the children brainstorm to find an answer.

Once the story is done explaining, parents can convey the hidden messages. Children will learn how to solve problems with their wisdom. They will learn to work together to overcome hurdles. They will imbibe the value of teamwork.