Problem:

Seven castaways on an island have found four coconuts and want to divide them equally among themselves. If any coconut cannot be divided, the remainder is given to the youngest castaway. How do they divide the coconuts fairly?

Scroll to the bottom of the page for the answer

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Solution:

Each castaway receives half a coconut. The youngest receives the remaining half plus the indivisible remainder, thus getting one whole coconut and half of another.