One very hot day, 2 farmers named Ram and Shyam sat cross-legged in the shade of a large neem tree. Both had tasty chapatis to eat for lunch. Ram had 3 pieces of the flat, round Indian bread. Shyam had 5. As they were about to begin their meal, a young nobleman rode by.
“Good day, good sirs,” the nobleman said. The nobleman looked hungry and tired, so Ram, and Shyam invited him to eat with them.
“How are we to divide these 8 chapatis among the 3 of us?” asked Ram.
“Let us stack then up and cut the chapatis into 3 equal parts,” suggested Shyam.
After cutting the chapatis, they shared the parts equally, so that no one ate more or less than anyone else. When they finished their meal, the grateful nobleman insisted on paying for his share of the food. Before he rode away, he pressed 8 gold coins into Ram's palm.
“There are 8 coins and 2 of us,” said Ram. “Let us take 4 coins each.”
“But that is not fair,” argued Shyam. “I had 5 chapatis and you had only 4. So I should take 5 coins and you should take 3.” Ram did not want to quarrel, but he also did not want to give Shyam 5 coins.
“Let us go to Maulvi the judge,” Ram said. “He is always just.”
They went to Maulvi's house and told him what happened. Maulvi thought for a long time. Finally, he said, “The fair way to divide the money is to give 7 coins to Shyam and 1 coin to Ram.” “What!” exclaimed Ram. “Why do I deserve 7?” asked Shyam. When Maulvi explained his reasoning, both Ram and Shyam were satisfied that justice had been done.
Decide on why the Judge’s decision is considered to be a “Fair Division”. Why is this a “Fair Division”?
