The numbers on the dice talked
about in this problem are arranged in the traditional manner where
the sum of the numbers on opposite faces is always
seven.
Jenny and her family often roll a die to decide who gets to eat the
last slice of pie.
There are three people in the family so it's easy to ensure it's
fair: each person is allocated two of the six numbers.
However, when they roll it, the die always seems to land
"edge-up" on a napkin, and they have to roll again.
One day, Jenny suggests that instead of rolling again, they simply
add the two faces that meet at the top edge.
Edge-up score: $6 + 2 = 8$
What different scores could Jenny and her family get?
Before they throw, everyone chooses some of the scores so that if
one of their numbers comes up, they get the last slice of pie.
Can the scores be allocated
fairly?
What if there are more, or fewer, people at dinner?
The die might also land corner-up like this:
Corner-up score: $6 + 5 + 3 =
14$
How could the scores be allocated fairly this time?
This problem is based on an
idea shared by Paul Stephenson.