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)

Cook 1 can divide the herb into what she believes are three equal piles. Cook 2 chooses an herb pile for Cook 3. Two herb piles remain. Cook 3 then chooses a pile for Cook 2 from the remaining two piles, and Cook 1 gets the pile no one chose.

In this way, no one is able to choose her own pile, and there is more incentive to be honest.

Posted by Sara on 2006-02-19 17:02:11