Pirates dividing treasure according to these rules: Oldest pirate divides the loot. Then everyone votes Yes or no. If a majority votes no, they chop off his head and try again. A pirate will vote yes if he gets more loot from doing so. All pirates are logical & smart and will follow these rules. 5 pirates. 100 gold pieces to split. How much can the oldest pirate get away with? Special premise: Getting your head cut off counts as -1 gold (It's always better to have 0 than to have 0 _and_ lose your life) Possible variations on their bloodthirst: Group: If votes are equal, divide the loot. If votes are equal, chop off the head. Individual: If voting yes/no will give you the same amount, you vote yes. If voting yes/no will give you the same amount, you vote no. Oldest pirate: Also gets to vote. Doesn't get to vote. If votes are equal, divide the loot. If voting yes/no will give you the same amount, you vote no. Oldest pirate also gets to vote. 5 4 3 2 1 100 100 0 99 0 1 99 0 1 0 98 0 1 0 1 Pirate X can get away with (201-X)/2 gold, rounded down If votes are equal, chop off the head. If voting yes/no will give you the same amount, you vote no. Oldest pirate also gets to vote. 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 100 -1 100 100 0 0 98 0 1 1 97 0 1 2 0 96 0 1 2 0 1 96 0 1 2 0 1 0 96 0 1 0 0 1 2 1 95 0 1 0 1 1 2 0 0 94 0 1 0 1 0 2 0 1 1 ... ------------------------------------------------------- None has one but one has one. Three has two but two has none. It can be found in the beginning of everything and at the end of time, and there's loads of it in between. Everything has it, nothing lacks it. And still it's not found in anything. ------------------------------------------------------- Three fourths of a cross and a circle complete. Two semi circles with a perpendicular meet. Then comes a triangle that stands on two feet, two semi circles and a circle complete. -------------------------------------------------------