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)

    This may be akin to some of the others posted.
A divides out 1/3rd.  If only one of B or C want it, it's theirs.  If neither of them want it, it's A's.  In either of these cases, the remaining 2/3rds can be fairly and satisfactorily split among the remaining two members.
If both B and C want this pile, they set it aside, and A is asked to divide out another 1/3rd.  Once again, if only A or only B wants it, it's theirs.  If neither want it, it's A's and the other 2/3rds are split.  If they both want this pile, too, A gets the remainder and B and C split the combination of those two 1/3rds.

Posted by AvalonXQ on 2006-02-17 05:53:34