1. Beasts of Burden Math Journeys 2011

2. Question……….. What do you think a beast is?????? What do you think a beast is??????

3. The beasts in our story are…

4. Question………….. What do you think a burden is????? What do you think a burden is?????

5. Burden A stress in your life that weighs you down mentally……………….. A stress in your life that weighs you down mentally……………….. Ex: These high gas prices are a burden. Ex: These high gas prices are a burden. Deciding on a college choice can be a burden. Deciding on a college choice can be a burden. Someone having eight people live in two bedroom apartment……BURDEN! Someone having eight people live in two bedroom apartment……BURDEN!

6. Listen to the story to see if you can help the characters in this story solve their burden.

7. Beasts of Burden…… Two men had been traveling for hours without stopping when they saw three men arguing heatedly beside a herd of camels. They were shouting insults at each other for a long time. Two men had been traveling for hours without stopping when they saw three men arguing heatedly beside a herd of camels. They were shouting insults at each other for a long time.

8. Beremiz, one of the men who saw this happening asked the guys beside the camels why they were arguing. Beremiz, one of the men who saw this happening asked the guys beside the camels why they were arguing.

9. “We are brothers” the oldest explained, “and we received these 35 camels as our inheritance. “We are brothers” the oldest explained, “and we received these 35 camels as our inheritance.

10. “According to our father, half of them belong to me, one-third to my brother Hamed, and one-ninth to Harim, the youngest. “According to our father, half of them belong to me, one-third to my brother Hamed, and one-ninth to Harim, the youngest.

11. “Our problem is that we do not know how to make the division, and whatever one of us suggests, the other two dispute. Of the solutions we’ve tried so far none have been acceptable. “Our problem is that we do not know how to make the division, and whatever one of us suggests, the other two dispute. Of the solutions we’ve tried so far none have been acceptable.

12. These guys were in a bind. They couldn’t figure out how to divide the camels into equal parts. I bet they never went to Math Journeys!!! These guys were in a bind. They couldn’t figure out how to divide the camels into equal parts. I bet they never went to Math Journeys!!! Since you guys have been here for a few weeks, I bet you can figure out how to solve their burden.

13. Turn to your neighbor and discuss what a possible solution could be.

14. Remember…………… The oldest gets ½ of the camels, the middle brother gets 1/3 of the camels and the youngest gets 1/9.

15. Let’s think………… The oldest brother gets ½. The oldest brother gets ½. How many camels are half of 35? How many camels are half of 35?

16. Ooopps I forgot to tell you….. I didn’t tell you in the beginning that might give you some ideas. This story took place many years ago before cars were around. People in Iraq used camels as their method of transportation. Beremiz and his friend were both riding on the friends camel when they met up with the three arguing brothers. I didn’t tell you in the beginning that might give you some ideas. This story took place many years ago before cars were around. People in Iraq used camels as their method of transportation. Beremiz and his friend were both riding on the friends camel when they met up with the three arguing brothers.

17. Is there anything we can do with the friends camel? Is there anything we can do with the friends camel?

18. Let’s read what Beremiz acutually did…….. If half of 35 is 17 1/2, and if neither one-third or one-ninth of this amount is a precise number, then how can we make the division? If half of 35 is 17 1/2, and if neither one-third or one-ninth of this amount is a precise number, then how can we make the division? …………….Keep reading -------  …………….Keep reading ------- 

19. Very simple, said Beremiz, I PROMISE to make the division fairly, but let me add to the inheritance of 35 camels this splendid beast that brought us here at such an opportune time! At this point his friend said, “ARE YOU CRAZY?” “How are we going to continue on our journey if you give these guys our only camel? Very simple, said Beremiz, I PROMISE to make the division fairly, but let me add to the inheritance of 35 camels this splendid beast that brought us here at such an opportune time! At this point his friend said, “ARE YOU CRAZY?” “How are we going to continue on our journey if you give these guys our only camel?

20. “Don’t worry,” said Beremiz. “I know exactly what I am doing. Give me your camel and you will see what results.” And so Beremiz’s friend gave him his camel and he added that to the number that had to be divided between the three brothers. “Don’t worry,” said Beremiz. “I know exactly what I am doing. Give me your camel and you will see what results.” And so Beremiz’s friend gave him his camel and he added that to the number that had to be divided between the three brothers.

21. “My friends,” he said, “I am going to make a fair division of the camels, which, as you can see is now 36. “My friends,” he said, “I am going to make a fair division of the camels, which, as you can see is now 36.

22. Task…………. Please work with your group to share ideas about how to solve the problem. Use the poster that I am going to give you to publicly explain your work using words, numbers, and/or picture. Please work with your group to share ideas about how to solve the problem. Use the poster that I am going to give you to publicly explain your work using words, numbers, and/or picture. Materials --------------------------------  Materials -------------------------------- 

23. Possible Materials Pattern blocksChart Paper Pattern blocksChart Paper Cut- out camelsMarkers Cut- out camelsMarkers CountersDry erase board CountersDry erase board CalculatorsJournals CalculatorsJournals Cuisenaire RodsPencils Cuisenaire RodsPencils Cubes Cubes Scissors Scissors Glue ----------------------------  Glue ---------------------------- 

24. Restate Task…… You need to figure out how many camels each brother gets. You need to figure out how many camels each brother gets. Oldest 1/2 Oldest 1/2 Middle 1/3 Middle 1/3 Youngest 1/9 Youngest 1/9

25. Ending…………… Turning to the eldest of the brothers, he spoke, “You would have received half of 35- that is, 17 ½. Now you will receive half of 36- that is 18. You have nothing to complain about, because you gain by this division.” Turning to the eldest of the brothers, he spoke, “You would have received half of 35- that is, 17 ½. Now you will receive half of 36- that is 18. You have nothing to complain about, because you gain by this division.”

26. Turning to the second heir, he continued, “And you, Hamed, you would have received one- third of 35- that is, 11 and some. Now you will receive one-third of 36 – that is, 12. You cannot protest, as you too gain by this division.” Turning to the second heir, he continued, “And you, Hamed, you would have received one- third of 35- that is, 11 and some. Now you will receive one-third of 36 – that is, 12. You cannot protest, as you too gain by this division.”

27. Finally, he spoke to the youngest: “And you, young Harim Namir, according to your father’s last wishes, you were to receive one- ninth of 35, or 3 camels and part of another. Nevertheless, I will give you one-ninth of 36, or 4. You have benefited substantially and should be grateful to me for it.” Finally, he spoke to the youngest: “And you, young Harim Namir, according to your father’s last wishes, you were to receive one- ninth of 35, or 3 camels and part of another. Nevertheless, I will give you one-ninth of 36, or 4. You have benefited substantially and should be grateful to me for it.”

28. And he concluded with the greatest confidence, “By this advantageous division, which has benefited everyone, 18 camels belong to the oldest, 12 to the next, and 4to the youngest, which comes out to 18+12+4=34 camels. Of the 36 camels, therefore, there are 2 extra. One, as you know, belongs to my friend from Baghdad. And he concluded with the greatest confidence, “By this advantageous division, which has benefited everyone, 18 camels belong to the oldest, 12 to the next, and 4to the youngest, which comes out to 18+12+4=34 camels. Of the 36 camels, therefore, there are 2 extra. One, as you know, belongs to my friend from Baghdad.

29. The other rightly belongs to me for having resolved the complicated problem of the inheritance to everyone’s satisfaction.” The other rightly belongs to me for having resolved the complicated problem of the inheritance to everyone’s satisfaction.” “Stranger, you are a most intelligent man, “ exclaimed the oldest of the three brothers, “and we accept your solution with the confidence that it was achieved with justice and equity.” “Stranger, you are a most intelligent man, “ exclaimed the oldest of the three brothers, “and we accept your solution with the confidence that it was achieved with justice and equity.”

30. The clever Beremiz, the Man Who Counted, took possession of one of the finest animals in the herd and, handing me the reins of my own animal, said, “Now, dear friend, you can continue the journey on your camel, comfortable and content. I have on of my own to carry me.” The clever Beremiz, the Man Who Counted, took possession of one of the finest animals in the herd and, handing me the reins of my own animal, said, “Now, dear friend, you can continue the journey on your camel, comfortable and content. I have on of my own to carry me.” And we traveled on toward Baghdad. And we traveled on toward Baghdad.