Jane Street

Interview Question

Trader Interview
Jane Street

Five pirates of different ages have a treasure of 100 gold coins. On their ship, they decide to split the coins as follows: The oldest pirate proposes how to share the coins, and all pirates (including the oldest) vote for or against the proposal. If 50% or more of the pirates vote for it, the coins are shared accordingly. Otherwise, the proposing pirate is thrown overboard, and the process repeats with the remaining pirates. If a pirate would receive the same number of coins whether he votes for or against the proposal, he votes against so that the proposer is thrown overboard. Assuming all five pirates are intelligent, rational, greedy, do not wish to die, and are skilled in mathematics, what will happen?

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