Henry Ernest Dudeney/Puzzles and Curious Problems/67 - Carrying Bags

Puzzles and Curious Problems by Henry Ernest Dudeney: $67$

Carrying Bags

A gentleman had to walk to his railway station, four miles from his house,

and was encumbered by two heavy bags of equal weight, but too heavy for him to carry alone.

His gardener and the boy both insisted on carrying the luggage;

but the gardener is an old man, and the boy not sufficiently strong,

while the gentleman believes in a fair division of labour, and wished to take his own share.

They started off with the gardener carrying one bag and the boy the other,

while the gentleman worked out the best way of arranging that the three should share the burden equally among them.

Now, how would you have managed it?

Sources

• 1932: Henry Ernest Dudeney: Puzzles and Curious Problems ... (previous) ... (next): Arithmetical and Algebraical Problems: Locomotion and Speed Puzzles: $67$. -- Carrying Bags
• 1968: Henry Ernest Dudeney: 536 Puzzles & Curious Problems ... (previous) ... (next): Arithmetical and Algebraical Problems: Speed & Distance Puzzles: $81$. Carrying Bags