# Three people, three destinations, one cab **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 6, 2014, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-people-three-destinations-one-cab/685492 "2014-04-06T18:15:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2014, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-people-three-destinations-one-cab/685492/1 "2014-04-06T18:15:43Z")
Andy, Bob, and Chris get in a cab together. They are all heading the same general direction, but Aaron’s destination is 10 blocks away, Bob’s is 20, and Chris’ is 30. For simplicity, let’s say the total fare is $10. In this city, there is a $2.00 initial charge, but no additional charge for multiple passengers, it is distance only. What is the fairest way to split the fare? ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2014, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-people-three-destinations-one-cab/685492/2 "2014-04-06T18:22:00Z")
Define fairest For example they could each pay for the 10 block increment to their location but then Arron saves nothing and Chris saves 2/3. Is that fair? ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2014, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-people-three-destinations-one-cab/685492/3 "2014-04-06T18:27:15Z")
> [@zoid](#): > > Define fairest That is really the heart of the question, no? > [@](#): > > For example they could each pay for the 10 block increment to their location but then Arron saves nothing and Chris saves 2/3. > Is that fair? You’ve provided this as an example of what you believe is \*not \*fair. What would be, then? ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2014, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-people-three-destinations-one-cab/685492/4 "2014-04-06T18:32:45Z")
I didn’t say it wasn’t fair, I asked if it was. Should they all save the same dollar amount or the same percentage? I’m not sure there’s a true answer. ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2014, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-people-three-destinations-one-cab/685492/5 "2014-04-06T18:35:34Z")
For arguments sake I say they should each save 50%, assuming it’s a dollar a mile Aaron pays $5, Bob pays $10 and Chris pays $15. ---
**Author:** ![InternetLegend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/internetlegend/32/13154_2.png) [@InternetLegend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InternetLegend)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2014, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-people-three-destinations-one-cab/685492/6 "2014-04-06T19:29:45Z")
They split the $2.00 charge between them and then pay a percentage of the per-mile fare based on how far they’re going. That makes $1.86 for Aaron, $3.33 for Bob, and $4.81 for Chris. And they should all kick something in for the tip, too, so let’s say Aaron goes $2.30, Bob ponies up $3.80, and Chris gives $5.75. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2014, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-people-three-destinations-one-cab/685492/7 "2014-04-06T19:35:49Z")
Chris pays the fare, to keep the meter from running during the first two drop-offs. Andy / Aaron owes Chris a coffee and Bob owes her a beer. But since Andy is already changing his name during the cab ride, I doubt if Chris will collect. ---
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2014, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-people-three-destinations-one-cab/685492/8 "2014-04-06T19:35:56Z")
The “obvious” answer is, they pay in proportion to what they would have paid separately. They split the $2 drop; the $8 mileage is divided up in a 1:2:3 ratio. I might have Aaron and Bob pay slightly more because of the extra cost caused by the wait time while they are getting out. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2014, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-people-three-destinations-one-cab/685492/9 "2014-04-06T20:55:07Z")
> [@Dr.Drake](#): > > Chris pays the fare, to keep the meter from running during the first two drop-offs. Andy / Aaron owes Chris a coffee and Bob owes her a beer. But since Andy is already changing his name during the cab ride, I doubt if Chris will collect. Yeah, sorry I changed the name. I was trying to use simple A-B-C names and Aaron was actually the first name I typed, but changed it to Andy in the first sentence but forgot to change the second. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2014, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-people-three-destinations-one-cab/685492/10 "2014-04-06T21:57:24Z")
They split it into thirds and don’t worry too much about the difference. If they are in DC, the max cab fare isn’t really going to be more than $25.00 or so. They can afford $10.00. DC does, however, make it a bit complicated as the full fare due must be paid as each passenger exits. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2014, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-people-three-destinations-one-cab/685492/11 "2014-04-06T22:20:55Z")
> [@even\_sven](#): > > They split it into thirds and don’t worry too much about the difference. There is, I think, an argument for a definition of ‘fair’ to include not obsessing over minutiae - I agree - in this case, as the fare is small, they should just split it three ways and then talk about something more interesting. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2014, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-people-three-destinations-one-cab/685492/12 "2014-04-07T19:32:55Z")
> [@zoid](#): > > Define fairest > > For example they could each pay for the 10 block increment to their location but then Arron saves nothing and Chris saves 2/3. > Is that fair? It could be considered fair. “A” got exactly what he paid for - a non-stop 10 block trip. “B” gets a little break because he is subject to a delay that he wouldn’t have in a seperate cab (“A”'s stop). “C” pays the least per mile, but has the most (2) delays on his trip.