cake puzzle

[Frog march]

Two people are stuck on a desert island and a metal box washes up on the beach, they open it and it contains a cake.

How do they divide the cake fairly between themselves given that each person wants as much of the cake as possible and they don't want to end up having a fight

ps.They do have knives and stuff.

[SolusLupus]

I'd say that they cut it down the middle. If you want a more complicated way of garnering information about the best method of cutting the cake down the middle... I recommend using the box itself as a measure before even taking it out. Find what's the "middle" of each side, and then using a ruler-like object (such as, say, a straighter back-edge of a knife) to make sure the line cut down is even.

Alternatively, one stabs the other in the back and takes the cake. He avoids an actual fight, and gets the cake.

One's the cynic, one's the engineer. Alternatively, one's the diplomat, the other's the engineer. ;)

[Frog march]

but the answer I have would mean that both people get to survive and that neither can complain about having the smaller piece.

[cjl]

Then cut down the middle it is...

[Dragon Star]

#1) Look, a cake is inside that box!
#2) Wow *pulls out cake*
#1) Hey look, there is a tub of icing in the box as well

*#2 looks*

*#1 grabs the cake and runs away to eat it*

Can't complain about having the smaller piece if you didn't have a piece at all.:D

[ToSeek]

One person cuts the cake, while the other gets to choose which piece to take.

[Roy Batty]

Can we assume the cake is a perfect sphere? :)

[Dragon Star]

One person cuts the cake, while the other gets to choose which piece to take.

AH! Why didn't I think of that!? Oh, right, I am an only child.:D

I remember when I was little, my friends that had siblings mothers would do that to make it fair.

[Jeff Root]

One person cuts the cake, while the other gets to choose
which piece to take.
Standard proceedure in dueling.

Cake at ten paces.

-- Jeff, in Minneapolis

[Parrothead]

If the cake is square or rectangular, slice it diagonally. If round, agree on midpoint and let each slice out to edge while sitting opposite. (one person will always get less due to crumbs. ;) )

[Ronald Brak]

One person cuts the cake, while the other gets to choose which piece to take.

Yeah, and my sister would always get me to cut it and take the bigger piece because she knew I wasn't coordinated enough to divide it evenly with one cut. Multiple cuts were out as that counts as "ruining it" or "playing with your food" both of which are mortal sins.

It interesting how children can be playing happily, then someone gives them something nice to share and it often results in both children experencing misery. Seems similar to a lot of adult behaviour.

[SolusLupus]

This is one of those simple problems that requires a ridiculous complicated solution, isn't it? :P These "Guessing games" are always so funny.

[Frog march]

ToSeeks answer was the one i had. maybe there are others.

[Lord Jubjub]

OK, now divide a cake among three people.

[Frog march]

for three people-make one cut then the next person who makes a cut is the last person to choose the piece, the next person is second to last to choose the piece of cake and the remaining person is the first person to choose their piece of cake.