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5 Pirates - Solution
Puzzles -> Logic Puzzles
 The Puzzle: 5 pirates of different ages have a treasure of 100 gold coins.
On their ship, they decide to split the coins using this scheme:
The oldest pirate proposes how to share the coins, and all pirates remaining will vote for or against it.
If 50% or more of the pirates vote for it, then the coins will be shared that way. Otherwise, the pirate proposing the scheme will be thrown overboard, and the process is repeated with the pirates that remain.
Assuming that all 5 pirates are intelligent, rational, greedy, and do not wish to die, (and are rather good at math for pirates) what will happen? |
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The Solution . . .
The eldest pirate will propose a 97 : 0 : 1 : 0 : 2 split.
Working backwards, splits in terms of younger to older:
2 Pirates: Pirate Two splits the coins 100 : 0 (giving all to the other pirate). Otherwise, and perhaps even then, Pirate One (the youngest) would vote against him and over he goes!
3 Pirates: Pirate Three splits the coins 0 : 1 : 99. Pirate One (the youngest) is going to vote against him no matter what (see above), but this way, Pirate Two will vote for him, to get at least one gold out of it.
4 Pirates: Pirate Four splits the coins 1 : 2 : 0 : 97. This way, Pirate One will vote for him, and so will Pirate Two - they're getting more than they would under 3 pirates.
5 Pirates: Pirate five splits the coins 2 : 0 : 1: 0 : 97. This way, Pirate One will vote for him, and so will Pirate Three - they're both getting better than they would under 4. |
Discuss this puzzle at the Math is Fun Forum
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