Lone Divider Method

The lone divider method is a way of dividing an object or a set of objects into fair shares. It is suitable for more than two people and it only applies to objects, or sets, that can be divided in an indefinite number of ways (continuous fair share problem), such as liquids or a pizza. It is called method of the lone divider because only one person has the right to divide the object before anyone can make his choice.
  1. Definitions and Assumptions

    • Fair share is a piece that the person who received it believes it's worth 1/N (N is the number of the object's shares). Each person is assumed to act rationally with the intent of getting a fair share, while everyone has the ability to decide whether a share is fair or not. However, it is certain that the divider is going to divide an object or a set into equal parts, as he does not know which one he will end up with.

    Choosing Different Parts

    • Let's say that there are three people trying to divide a cake. The lone divider cuts the cake in equal parts and the other two people (the "choosers") get to determine which share is fair for them. If they choose different parts, the division is simple: each one gets the share he chose, while the divider ends up with the remaining part. Since for the divider every share is fair, everyone is satisfied.

    Choosing the Same Part

    • If the choosers believe that the fair share for them is the same part of the cake, then there is an additional step to the problem. On this occasion, the divider takes one of the unwanted pieces, while the remaining pieces (the piece both choosers want and the unwanted parts) are theoretically merged. From then on, the two choosers have to follow the divider-chooser method.

    Divider-Chooser Method

    • One person is randomly assigned to be the divider. A flip of a coin can determine that. Then, he gets to divide the remaining parts of the cake in two fair shares. However, it's the second person, the chooser, who decides which piece each one gets. With this in mind, the divider must cut two equal halves, as a larger half is bound to end to the chooser. Therefore, for the divider both shares are fair. The chooser can pick whichever share he finds fair and so both participants end up satisfied.

Learnify Hub © www.0685.com All Rights Reserved