# Math Help - Determining an amount

1. ## Determining an amount

Hi - My first post. My question involves determining an amount. As a simple means of reference I will allude to a standard dessert pie.

The first amount would be an entire pie
The second amount would be a slice of this pie, equaling 1/3rd of its volume.

If I had to compromise precisely between these two amounts, what would that amount be, and how would I determine it?

Would it be correct to divide the difference of 2/3rds (66.66%), by three, which is 22.22% and then add this amount to the 1/3rd (33.33%)? Thus suggesting that 55.55% of the pie would be the compromise amount between 1/3rd of the pie and the whole pie?

Edmund

2. ## Re: Determining an amount

Originally Posted by edmund
Would it be correct to divide the difference of 2/3rds (66.66%), by three,
Why? Why not divide by two? I think that's where most people would assume you were going with this,

Originally Posted by edmund
compromise precisely between these two amounts
I.e. a fraction equally near to 1/3 as to one whole.

I.e. the mean average (a traditional compromise) between the two numbers. (Between 1/3 and 1, i.e., roughly 33.33% and 100%.)

I.e. 2/3, or roughly 66.66%.

You seem to be proposing a weighted average, in which the smaller number is given more weight or importance, so that the compromise number will be nearer to it than to the higher fraction. Does it need to be that complicated, for any reason?