Greedy Florist

  • + 3 comments

    It doesn't really matter.
    Call the flowers [3,2,1]. A or B takes the most expensive flower, say A for argument. A pays (1)3 = 3. Now the next most expensive flower could be purchased by A or B. If A purchases it, it will cost (2)2 = 4, but if B does it will cost (1)2 = 2, so B should purchase.

    Now we need to buy the 1 flower, and both A and B have a coefficient of 2 now, so it doesn't matter who does. (You don't even have to keep track of people to solve the problem!)