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)

(In reply to re: possibly a simpler solution by Hugo)

Yes, thats what I meant, actually-- the first cook takes the pile that the second rejects, and the second takes the one the third rejects; similar to the example.

Posted by artifex on 2006-02-23 17:47:26