Baron Coburg
Once upon a time many, many years ago there lived a feudal
landlord in a small province of Western Europe. The landlord, Baron Coburg,
lived in a castle high on a hill. He was responsible for the well being of many
peasants who occupied the lands surrounding his castle. Each spring as the snow
began to melt, the Baron would decide how to provide for all his peasants
during the coming year.
One spring, the Baron was thinking about the wheat crop of
the coming growing season. "I believe that 30 acres of my land, being
worth five bushels of wheat per acre, will produce enough wheat for next
winter," he mused, "but who should do the farming? I believe I'll
give Ivan and Frederick the responsibility of growing the wheat."
Whereupon Ivan and Frederick were summoned for an audience with Baron Coburg.
"Ivan, you will farm on the 20 - acre plot of ground
and Frederick will farm the 10 - acre plot," the Baron began. "I will
give Ivan 20 bushels of wheat for seed and 20 pounds of fertilizer. (Twenty
pounds of fertilizer are worth two bushels of wheat.) Frederick will get 10
bushels of wheat for seed and 10 pounds of fertilizer. I will give each of you
an ox to pull a plow, but you each will have to make arrangements with Feyador
the plow maker for a plow. The oxen, incidentally, are only three years old and
have never been used for farming, so they should have a good 10 years of
farming ahead of them. Take good care of them, because an ox is worth 40 bushels
of wheat. Come back next fall and return the oxen and the plows along with your
harvest."
Ivan and Frederick
thanked the Baron and withdrew from the Great Hall, taking with them the things
provided by the Baron.
The summer came and went, and after the harvest Ivan and
Frederick returned to the Great Hall to account to their master for the things
given them in the spring. Ivan said, "My Lord, I present you with a
slightly used ox, a plow, broken beyond repair, and 223 bushels of wheat.
Unfortunately, I owe Feyador the plow maker three bushels of wheat for the plow
I got from him last spring. And, as you might expect, I used all the fertilizer
and seed you gave me last spring. You will also remember, my Lord, that you
took 20 bushels of my harvest for your own personal use."
Frederick spoke next. "Here, my Lord, is a partially
used ox, the plow, for which I gave Feyador the plow maker three bushels of
wheat from my harvest, and 105 bushels of wheat. I, too, used all my seed and
fertilizer last spring. Also, my Lord, you took 30 bushels of wheat several
days ago for your own table. I believe the plow is good for two more
seasons." “You did well," said the Baron. Blessed with his
benediction the two peasants departed. After they had taken their leave, the
Baron began to contemplate what had happened.
"Yes," he
thought, "they did well, but I wonder which one did better?"
Required:
Advise the baron.
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