The
five pirates have found another 500 gold coins and wonder how to split them up. This time they say that unless a
majority (more than 1/2) say yes to a plan, the one that proposed that plan will get killed and they will move on to the next plan. The order of plan making starts with 5, then 4, 3, 2, 1.
The pirates will try above all else to stay alive, even if it means accepting no coins. If they will stay alive either way, they would like the most coins possible. Also, the pirates have been on board the ship for a while and are getting tired with each other, so if faced with the decision to reject a plan or keep it, they will reject it if nothing else matters more to them.
What should Pirate 5's offer be?
Pirate 2 knows that if it gets down to just him and Pirate 1, Pirate 2 is doomed, because even if Pirate 2's plan gives all the money to Pirate 1, Pirate 1 will still vote against Pirate 2 to get him killed, since the puzzle says that the pirates want to be rid of each other. Pirate 5 knows that Pirate 2 knows that Pirate 3 knows that, and Pirate 5 also knows that Pirate 3 knows that Pirate 2 knows that Pirate 3 knows that. So Pirate 5 knows that Pirate 3 knows that Pirate 2 will vote for any plan that Pirate 3 proposes, and Pirate 5 knows that Pirate 1 knows that Pirate 3 knows that. But Pirate 5 also knows that Pirate 1 knows that Pirate 3 knows that Pirate 1 will vote against Pirate 3's plan, but Pirate 2 will vote for it, and so Pirate 3 will win. So Pirate 5 knows that Pirate 3 knows that Pirate 3's plan is sure to be accepted, no matter what it is, and Pirate 5 knows that Pirate 3 will vote against any plan by Pirate 5 or Pirate 4. Pirate 5 knows that Pirate 1 and Pirate 2 will vote FOR any plan by Pirate 5 and Pirate 4 that gives them anything, since Pirate 3's plan will give everything to himself, since Pirate 3 knows that Pirate 2 will vote for his plan in order to survive.
So Pirate 5 will propose a plan to give Pirate 1 and Pirate 2 one coin each, and keep 498 coins for himself.
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Posted by Penny
on 2004-04-08 08:26:59 |
Internet Piracy
