Salary

[Michel]

Which is the last one of an infinite number?

He means the last person to take the 70%.

I checked that the procedure indeed converges to the ratios indicated by Adam.

[Adam Hair]

Which is the last one of an infinite number?

He means the last person to take the 70%.

I checked that the procedure indeed converges to the ratios indicated by Adam.

I am glad that the accumulated rust has not completely frozen my mathematical tools

[geots]

How much are you willing pay me, Henk? For the right price, I can look the other way when you make off-topic posts. I am a lame duck moderator, so I am willing to do about anything if someone will pay me enough

Yes, and I ransom Adam 70% of what he makes, so go on.

Here's a tricky question, now. Considering that Miguel ransoms me for 70% of what I make, and that Adam ransoms Miguel for 70% of what he makes, who makes the most ?

Adam should make the most, since he keeps his original 30%, and adds 70% of Miguel's stake to it in the end.

It's not that simple: I'll fall back onto Adam after that. I'm no mathematician but my guess would be that, eventually, each one's revenue will tend to a third of the total amount, after an infinite amount of ransoms.

It would be split 1/3 if the last transaction took place with someone outside the group. But that last 70 percent transaction stays inside the group. Thus, one of us is going to end up with more money. Two of us will have 18.75% of the money, the last person gets 62.5% (given an infinite amount of transactions).

Adam- I guess my request sounds stupid because you would never know. Still............. would you mind if I skewed your avatar down and used it as a "Gaviota engine logo?"



All the best-

george

[Adam Hair]

Sure, George. Just know that I did not create that image of the seagull. I just rescaled it and added "Gaviota" to it. Maybe they won't come and lock me up for doing that

[kbhearn]

The problem can be read in different ways, if after the 70% ransom the 30% kept is taken out of the problem, then the first recipient walks out with the biggest share. I assume your convergence to the last person taking 62.5% involves that 30% being subject to repeated taxation :) The more sensible, less infinite version that converges quickly will leave the original recipient with about 45.7% of the money, the second with 31.9% of the money, and the last with 22.4%.

[geots]

Sure, George. Just know that I did not create that image of the seagull. I just rescaled it and added "Gaviota" to it. Maybe they won't come and lock me up for doing that

Thanks, Adam. I think we could both get off with a fine and community service.


Best,

gts