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The five pirates mentioned previously are joined by a sixth, then plunder a ship with only one gold coin.
After venting some of their frustration by killing all on board the ship, they now need to divvy up the one coin. They are so angry, they now value in priority order:
1. Their lives
2. Getting money
3. Seeing other pirates die.
How can the captain save his skin?
This is how he should save himself!
The Prequel of the story!
First read the story of sequel!
Let's name all the pirates as Pirate 6,5,4,3,2,1 as per their seniority. Now, the captain should respond with the logic below to save his skin.
Let's consider the cases where there are different number of pirates left on the ship after getting rid of seniors one by one.
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CASE 1 : 2 Pirates
The captain i.e. Pirate 2 can keep coin with him & obviously vote for himself (1/2 = 50% vote) to approve the proposal.
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CASE 2: 3 Pirates.
The captain i.e. Pirate 3 offers coin to Pirate 1 to get his support (2/3 = 66%) on proposal. Since, Pirate 1 knows what is going to happen if Pirate 3 dies as crew reduced to 2 Pirates as in CASE 1.
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CASE 3: 4 Pirates.
The captain i.e. Pirate 4 offers coin to Pirate 2 thereby getting his support (2/4 =50% votes) to get approval on proposal. Again, here Pirate 2 is smart enough to agree on this proposal as he know what will happen if Pirate 4 is eliminated leaving behind 3 pirates on sheep as in CASE 3.
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CASE 4: 5 Pirates.
Now the captain i.e. Pirate 5 always will be in danger as he can give only coin to only 1 of remaining 4. So he can 'earn' only 1 vote in support of his proposal i.e. only 2/5 = 40% votes. Hence, there is no way his proposal get approval & he should be ready to die.
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CASE 5: 6 Pirates.
Here, Pirate 5 has to agree whatever captain i.e. Pirate 6 offers as if Pirate 6 dies the case reduces to CASE 4 where Pirate 5 can't save himself. However, if both Pirate 6 & Pirate 5 die, then CASE 3 comes into reality where Pirate 2 gets coin. So Pirate 2 would never agree on proposal offered by Pirate 6.
However, if Pirate 6 offers coin to Pirate 4 then he would take it happily as he knows that what will happen of both Pirate 6 & 5 are killed as CASE 3 comes into picture where he has to give coin to Pirate 2 to save himself.
If Pirate 6 offers coin to Pirate 3 as well & earn his support as Pirate 3 also knows what is going to be the case of both 6 & hence 5 get eliminated. The case will be reduced to 4 Pirates as in CASE 3 where Pirate 4 will offer coin to Pirate 2.
The Pirate 6 even choose Pirate 1 to offer coin. Again, Pirate 1 smart to think that what will be the case if 6 & hence 5 are killed. It will be the scenario as in CASE 3 where Pirate 4 offers coin to Pirate 2.
In short, the Pirate 6 will always get support from Pirate 5 always in any case & any one from Pirate 4/3/1 if he offers coin to any one of these three.
That's how he will get support of 50% (3/6) group to get approval for his proposal thereby saving his own life on approval of proposal offered.
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