Three cooks have each paid one third to purchase a bag of herbs. In the past, two of the cooks have divided their purchases in the following manner: First one cook would divide the herb, by eye, into two piles she considered to be equal. The second cook would then choose the pile she thought was bigger.

By what process may the three cooks divide their herbs in such a way that each was content that she had recieved at least one third of the total? (No scales or other devices are available to assist the division)

A divides into 3 piles

B and C decide which pile they think is bigger

   - If they both disagree then they take the pile they think is bigger – all happy

   - If they agree on which is biggest then either B takes what they think is biggest divide into 2 and C takes the sixth they think is biggest and B has the other sixth.

B and C then decide which of the two remaining thirds they think is biggest

           - If they both agree then C takes the next biggest pile into 2 and B takes the sixth they think is biggest and C has the other sixth and A has the remaining third – all happy

           - If they both disagree then both B and C take the third they think is the next biggest and divide it into two, A then takes the sixth from both B and C that they think is biggest – all happy

Posted by Lisa on 2006-02-07 09:36:04