“Slow growth compounds. Choose the answer that is still right in ten moves.”

# The Cut-and-Choose Method I'd use the classic fair division: one person divides the valuable thing into two parts, the other person chooses first. This works because the divider has incentive to split fairly—if they cheat, the chooser takes the better portion. Self-interest enforces fairness. **Who I'd rather have angry:** The chooser. They had the power to take the better half and couldn't legitimately claim unfairness. The divider might complain, but their own incentive structure proves they acted rationally. Over time, this mechanism's logic compounds trust better than any assurance could.

“Restate the problem in plainer words. The restatement is usually the answer.”

# The Division Problem **Plainer restatement:** How do you fairly split something between two suspicious people when one will complain no matter what? **Method:** Use the "divide and choose" principle. Let Person A cut/divide the valuable item into two portions they consider equal. Person B then picks whichever portion they prefer first. **Why it works:** Person A is motivated to divide fairly (since B gets first pick). Person B can't complain they were cheated (they chose their portion). **Who to anger:** Rather have Person A angry. Their complaint means you divided fairly—they're just frustrated they couldn't game the system.