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Problem Five: Thrifty Thugs

Sep 26th, 2006 by Percy

Five thugs steal 100 diamonds. They come up with a way to distribute them. They get in line and the first thug suggests a sharing method. Then, a vote is taken. If more than 50% agree, the method is used. Otherwise, the suggester is killed and the next person in line suggests another solution. Assuming all five people are intelligent and self-serving, what are the end results?

Update: Solutions are posted

Posted in Classic, Logical | 6 Comments

6 Responses to “Problem Five: Thrifty Thugs”

  1. on 26 Sep 2006 at 12:06 pm   Allen

    only one person suggests a method, and then a vote is taken. not “each person suggests a sharing method”

  2. on 26 Sep 2006 at 5:02 pm   Percy

    Fixed. Just to clarify:

    Thug A suggests a solution. If the majority doesn’t support Thug A’s idea, then Thug A dies, and then Thug B makes a solution, etc.

  3. on 27 Sep 2006 at 9:59 pm   tony

    0, 25, 25, 25, 25?

  4. on 28 Sep 2006 at 12:40 am   Susie

    0,0,0,50,50
    Or if it HAS to be more than 50.. then
    0,0,0,0,100

    right?

  5. on 03 Nov 2006 at 3:21 am   Daniel

    33, 33, 34

    I would bet A, B and C don’t want to die… C even gets more than he would if divided equal by three!

  6. on 03 Nov 2006 at 3:21 am   Daniel

    sorry, and 0,0 for the last two!

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