• Slowy@lemmy.world
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    10 months ago

    In one slice, cut a third off of each apple, and you’re left with 3 portions of 2/3 an apple each

    • DaCookeyMonsta@lemmy.world
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      10 months ago

      What’s bothering me is, mathematically that is the answer, but practically the apple is a non uniform shape so you cant really determine where a third of the apple truly is and it has seeds in the middle meaning two of the kieces will have seeds one the one getting the two cut off pieces won’t so its not truly shared equally.

      • 📛Maven@lemmy.sdf.org
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        10 months ago

        “Equal” has a slightly different meaning in fair division problems. It doesn’t mean “the exact same quantity of matter”, so not being able to judge exactly 1/3 of the apple doesn’t super matter (though your seed problem can be solved by cutting diagonally through the apples rather than along one side), but rather, that each person gets a portion they value at least as much as the others; maybe some people are willing to take a smaller piece if it means they have no seeds, maybe some people are going to peel their piece so they care more about having the largest internal volume, maybe some people plan to plant the seeds and so they actually value them, maybe some people only care about having the biggest piece.

        In practice, for three people this can take as few as 2 cuts or as many as 6; since there’s two apples and we can do 2 cuts with one stroke here, there is a fair division solution, but it only works if things go perfectly:

        The first person cuts the apples into 3 shares they think are of equal value (perhaps they hate apple cores, so they cut one side off both as above)

        The second person points out which share(s) they think are the best

        The third person takes the share they consider to be most valuable

        The second person takes the share they consider to be most valuable

        The first person takes the remaining share, which, since they cut, they must consider equal to the other two.

        If the second person doesn’t think at least two shares are of equal value, the problem becomes impossible to resolve without more knifeplay.

      • Neato@ttrpg.network
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        10 months ago

        Yeah. It’s a bad question. Why only one stroke? If you cut the apples into cubes and doled them out equally it’d be a much better and more equal experience. The problem presented is a lie, it’s just a geometry puzzle.

      • GBU_28@lemm.ee
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        10 months ago

        If you sliced vertically (still considering thirds) you would get more fair distribution of fruit-meat vs seeds

      • Slowy@lemmy.world
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        10 months ago

        I’m sure with some calibrating you could just cut off 1/3 of the edible portion. While the core-containing portions would be heavier, the edible apple weight would be the same. It wouldn’t be easy to do first try though

    • huginn@feddit.it
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      10 months ago

      Or cut both of them in half and throw out half an apple.

      Didn’t say all of the apple.

      • Troy@lemmy.ca
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        10 months ago

        Line the apples up next to each other, I guess. Sort of like taking a single slice through multiple carrots on the cutting board at once. Harder to do with apples given their shape, but I’d the knife is big enough, or you’re counting a slice as “single continuous motion” then it is probably valid.

        I can’t think of any other physical solution that isn’t a joke, so this is the most probable puzzle solution. In a D&D setting I might require a slight of hand check with a very low DC to pull off the single slicing motion.

      • thirteene@lemmy.world
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        10 months ago

        Cut 2/3 of both apples leaving 2x2/3 segments and 2x 1/segments (2/3 cut in half for those of you who struggle with fractions)

        • DudeBoy@lemmy.world
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          10 months ago

          I’m american, we would forget fraction entirety if we ever switched to the metric system.

    • SpaceCowboy@lemmy.ca
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      10 months ago

      With forensics being as good as they are now, they’ll probably figure out the knife you used the first time is the same knife you used the second time.

      You really can’t have a favourite knife anymore. Gotta dispose of it right away or they’ll work out the pattern without needing to figure out the riddles you left behind at the scene. It’s cheating really, but the only thing you can do to prevent it is by taking the “single-use knife” approach.

    • Numhold@feddit.de
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      10 months ago

      With one stroke? Does your group only consist of level 1 wizards or is it some kind of legendary knife?

      • Delta_V@lemmy.world
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        10 months ago

        The monk beats both other PCs unconscious and then uses the knife to cut off as much apple as they care to eat.

      • GiuEliNo@feddit.it
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        10 months ago

        You tie the unlucky member to sacrifice. Maybe one with low fortitude. And use coup de grace. Probably it will die One shot with one stroke. Technically it’s doable ^^

    • EdibleFriend@lemmy.world
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      10 months ago

      This was my vote except for reincarnating. I’m sure one of them deserves it. Probably. Maybe.

      Whatever we can find some other fucker to help us in the tavern.

      • skulblaka@startrek.website
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        10 months ago

        I play a cleric in my party. Previously, we’ve been asked to recover and return a certain plot-important NPC who didn’t exactly want to be transported…

        We killed him, transported the corpse, handcuffed it, and then raised him at the destination. It’s a lot easier to transport a body than a live half-elf who is actively trying to escape.

      • SpaceCowboy@lemmy.ca
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        10 months ago

        Just say “Why don’t we just use the knife multiple times to cut the apples into quarters so two people get 3/4 of an apple while one gets half an apple? One person gets a quarter apple less than the other two but it’s not a big deal is it?”

        Whoever complains about this approach gets stabbed.

  • fidodo@lemmy.world
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    10 months ago

    If you want the portions to be topologically identical I think the fewest cuts is 3?

  • ornery_chemist@mander.xyz
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    10 months ago

    Well, regardless, someone’s getting hurt. Have you tried cutting two whole apples, one on top of the other? It’s non-trivial! They aren’t exactly stable and the rogue’s gonna try to swipe one or both as soon as you move your own fingers out of the way. May as well get it over with and stab the rogue to start.

    • Kbin_space_program@kbin.social
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      10 months ago

      DM:
      We’re in Waterdeep, so the entire area is in a magical field, so detect magic is useless.

      Also you cast a spell and thats a crime in Waterdeep, so you see a Karen of an Elf run off to find the guard

      Player: I cast Identify on the apples.

      DM: first one is fine, second one is a baby Mimic that attacks your finger as soon as you touch it to cast the spell. What’s your AC and Roll Initiative.