Five pirates discover a chest full of 100 gold coins. The pirates are ranked by their ages. Pirate 5 is 50 years old, Pirate 4 is 49, and so on down to Pirate 1. To divide up the loot, they agree on the following:
The most senior pirate will propose a distribution of the booty. All pirates will then vote, including the most senior pirate, and if at least 50% of the pirates on board accept the proposal, the gold is divided as proposed. If not, the most senior pirate is murdered. Then the process starts over with the next most senior pirate until a plan is approved.
All Pirates are equally intelligent and selfish. Their preference is first to remain alive, and next to get as much gold as possible and finally, if given a choice between otherwise equal outcomes, to have fewer pirates on the boat.
Assume you are the senior most pirate in the group. Come up with a plan that maximizes your gold, and others will accept. How will you divide the coins? Can you generalize ..

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Cheers,
:) James:)

Here is the answer for your question...

Pirates1= 1
Pirates2= 0
Pirates3= 1
Pirates4= 0
Pirates5(me) = 98

we already discuss this problem in our brainteasers forum. Here is the reference link...

http://www.geekinterview.com/talk/2198-thiefs.html (Thiefs)


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suresh

Actually i asked dis question!!

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[B][COLOR="Blue"]Anyone who thinks he knows all the answers, must not be up-to-date on the questions[/COLOR][/B]
[B]Anshul[/B]:)

can anyone plz describe me the solution..
m not able to get the logic...

My solution is:

Pirate 5 (Me): 25
Pirate 4 : 25
Pirate 3 : 25
Pirate 2 : 13
Pirate 1 : 12

Here Pirate 4 and 3 will vote for me. I have my own vote at my side. This will keep me in majority. Pirate 4 and 3 will think that if they do not accept my solution then they will murder me but 100 coins will be then distributed among them. Probably they will get 25 only which anyway they are getting. So why not accept my solution?

Pirate 1 and 2 will not accept. But they what will happen? Nothing. They constitute lesser than 50 % in the total quorum. So anyway I will get more than others and I will remain alive.

Correct me if I am wrong.