O Homem que Calculava - Malba Tahan

Summary

This transcript narrates a captivating tale from 'The Man Who Calculated' by Brazilian author Júlio César de Melo e Souza, pseudonym 'Malba Tahan'. The story follows Beremis, a man crossing the desert with a friend, who helps a sheikh in distress. Their survival depends on sharing their limited food, and through a series of mathematical calculations, Beremis suggests an equitable division of resources. Ultimately, Beremis teaches the sheikh that true justice isn’t just about mathematical correctness, but also about fairness and balance, demonstrating the importance of generosity and partnership.

Takeaways

• 😀 Beremis, the protagonist, is a mathematician who travels through the desert with a friend to help a Sheik in need.
• 😀 The Sheik had been assaulted and left to die in the desert but was found by Beremis and his friend, who decided to help him.
• 😀 Beremis faces a dilemma regarding the limited food supply and proposes a mathematical solution: divide the bread equally among them to survive the journey.
• 😀 Beremis and his friend combine their bread, resulting in eight loaves, and agree to share one loaf per day for the eight-day journey.
• 😀 The Sheik, who is the governor of a city, is grateful for the help but is offered a mathematical solution regarding the division of gold as a reward.
• 😀 The Sheik rewards Beremis with five bars of gold for his five loaves of bread and his friend with three bars for his three loaves.
• 😀 Beremis argues that the division of gold is unfair because it does not take into account the partnership between him and his friend.
• 😀 Beremis calculates that he gave seven pieces of bread to the Sheik, while his friend only gave three, meaning he deserves more gold.
• 😀 The Sheik rethinks the division and corrects the reward, giving Beremis seven bars of gold and his friend one, as per Beremis' argument.
• 😀 Ultimately, Beremis proposes an even more just division, suggesting that both he and his friend should receive half of the gold, recognizing their partnership and fairness, which the Sheik accepts.

Q & A

Who is the author of the book 'O Homem Que Calculava'?

The author of 'O Homem Que Calculava' is Júlio César de Melo e Souza, who used the pseudonym 'Mabatha'an.'

What is the significance of the pseudonym 'Mabatha'an' in the story?

The pseudonym 'Mabatha'an' is used by the author to write the stories from the perspective of an Arab, making the narrative feel like an Arabian tale.

What lesson does the book 'O Homem Que Calculava' aim to teach?

The book aims to teach readers to appreciate and love mathematics, while embedding the lessons within intriguing stories and adventures.

What was the dilemma Beremis faced during his journey with the Sheik?

Beremis faced the dilemma of having limited food supplies while helping a Sheik who had been abandoned in the desert. He had to figure out how to share their food so that they could all survive.

How did Beremis propose to divide the bread during their journey?

Beremis proposed that he and his friend combine their bread, creating eight loaves in total. They would then divide each loaf into three parts, with each person eating one part per day.

Why did Beremis think the gold division was not fair after their rescue?

Beremis felt the division of the gold was not fair because he contributed more by sharing seven pieces of bread, while his friend only shared one. He argued that the gold should reflect their respective contributions.

What was the Sheik’s reaction to Beremis’ suggestion for a more equitable gold division?

The Sheik initially disagreed, but upon further consideration and after Beremis’ explanation, he agreed that the division should reflect the contributions of both Beremis and his friend.

What is the moral lesson that Beremis teaches the Sheik about fairness and justice?

Beremis teaches the Sheik that fairness in division is not just about mathematical equality but about recognizing the contributions and partnership that led to success. He stresses that true fairness involves generosity and cooperation.

How does the concept of 'perfection' differ from 'justice' in the story?

In the story, justice refers to a simple, mathematical division, while perfection involves a deeper, moral understanding of fairness, where both the actions and contributions of individuals are equally valued.

What decision does Beremis make after the Sheik agrees to a 'fair' division of gold?

Beremis decides to share the gold evenly with his companion, taking four bars for himself and giving the other four to his friend, as a reflection of the true partnership that saved the Sheik.