Skip to content
INFINITE SUM
← Paradoxes & riddles

1:44

The Seventeen Camels

the borrowed camel riddle

A father leaves 17 camels to his 3 sons: 1/2 to the eldest, 1/3 to the middle son and 1/9 to the youngest. 17 can't be split into halves, thirds or ninths. A wise traveler lends them 1 camel.

Source: A classic puzzle, retold by INFINITE SUM and fact-checked against our curated notes

Want another one?

Type the name of a paradox or riddle you've heard of, or browse the rest of the archive.