The Philosopher’s Pupils.
To find a number of which the half, fourth, and seventh, added to three, shall be equal to itself.
This was a favorite problem among the ancient Grecian arithmeticians, who stated the question in the following manner: “Tell us, illustrious Pythagoras, how many pupils frequent thy school?” “One-half,” replied the philosopher, “study mathematics, one-fourth natural philosophy, one-seventh preserve silence, and there are three females besides.”
The answer is 28: 14 + 7 + 4 + 3 = 28.