Question

Alphonso, on his deathbed, keeps half his property for his wife and divides the rest equally among his three sons Ben, Carl, and Dave. Some years later Ben dies leaving half his property to his widow and half to his brothers Carl and Dave together, shared equally. When Carl makes his will he keeps half his property for his widow and the rest he bequeaths to his younger brother Dave. When Dave died some years later, he kept half his property for his widow and the remaining for his mother. The mother now has Rs. 1,575,000 In the above question, what was Carl's original share?​

Answer 1

Answer: 24 lakh

This can get a little complicated because of the fractions involved.

Let the total property value = x lakhs

When Alphonso dies: His wife's share = x2x2.

Each of the 3 brother gets 1/3 rd remaining x2=x6x2=x6

When Ben dies: His wife's share = 12∗x6=x1212∗x6=x12

Dave and Carl each get 1/2 of the remaining x12=x24x12=x24

Now Dave and Carl each have x6+x24=5x24x6+x24=5x24

When Carl dies: His wife's share = 12∗5x24=5x4812∗5x24=5x48 and Dave gets the other half = 5x485x48

Dave now has = 5x24+5x48=15x48=5x165x24+5x48=15x48=5x16

When Dave dies, his mother get 1/2 of his property = 12∗5x16=5x3212∗5x16=5x32

The property share owned by the mother = 12+5x32=21x32=157500012+5x32=21x32=1575000

x=1575000∗3221=2400000x=1575000∗3221=2400000