## 295. Math Puzzle $12 / 89$

A wealthy merchant had decided to be charitable to his fellow men at least after his death, which his insatiable avarice had prevented him from doing during his lifetime.

In his gold chest, the miser guarded the sealed parchment, in which he decreed that his brother living in grace on the neighboring farm should receive half, his loyal servant $1 / 3$, and the beautiful daughter of the brother $1 / 12$ of the chest's contents as a gift.

The remaining balance of 1200 gold coins should be distributed to the needy of the city.

How many coins were hoarded in the chest?
$$
1-\frac{1}{2}-\frac{1}{3}-\frac{1}{12}=\frac{1}{12}=1200 \quad \text{ i.e. } \quad 12 \cdot 1200=14400
$$

The old miser's fortune amounted to 14400 gold coins.