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: My Solution by avijit)

A simple modificaton .

A divides into 3 piles
B and C decide which pile they think is bigger .
--if they both disagree then all peace .
---if they agree on a pile------then they decide which is the smallest one and give that to A.
NOW THE PROBLEM REDUCES TO 2 PPL PROBLEM FOR WHICH THE SOLUTION IS KNOWN .
iN CASE THEY DISAGREE ON THE SMALLEST PILE--
the case is ::they agreed on biggest but disagree on smallest .
ie . B has choosed 1 (say) as biggest and 2 as smallest
     C has choosed 1 (say) as biggest and 3 as smallest


NOW ask A to choose from 2 and 3 .
Once A chooses----2 person problem .

    

Posted by avijit on 2006-02-07 10:13:32