You have four people and one cake. Obviously, the only fair way to divide the cake is to cut it into fourths. But what if a person is especially fond of frosting, or cherries, or marzipan? When is it worth trading quantity for quality?
What if instead of a cake, these people are France, Great Britain, the United States, and the USSR dividing Berlin after World War II? (Or Israel and Palestine dividing Jerusalem?)
As you might guess, real-world solutions can be massively complex. Since the beginning of recorded history, humans have used the strategy of one-divides, the-other-picks to divvy up finite resources. If you can think of a better way, the UN would love to hear it.
Will You Die This Year?
Statistical analysis of historical data shows a 100 percent chance that you will die. But what are your chances of dying this year? Scientists at Carnegie Mellon allow you to compute your chances and compare them with people in other demographics and areas. Visit deathriskrankings.com to see how seriously you should take this year’s New Year’s resolutions.
