A new study from researchers at the Institute of Science and Technology Austria has unearthed a game theory dilemma that is over 3,000 years old. This ancient puzzle, known as the Sheep and Grain paradox, asks: “A shepherd is tending his flock, and he needs to decide how many sheep and how much grain he should bring to the market. If he takes too much grain, he won’t be able to carry it; if he takes too many sheep, he won’t have enough grain to feed them. How can he maximize his profits?”

This perplexing problem has been posed to mathematicians and philosophers throughout the centuries, and its solution has eluded scientists since its discovery. But now, thanks to advanced mathematical techniques, researchers have uncovered the answer. It turns out the optimal solution is to bring one-third of the flock and one-third of the grain – a simple yet elegant solution to a very complicated problem.

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source: Phys.org