Why is the bill-splitting problem so much more interesting to techies compared to the tons of other real-life math application problems out there? I see more apps and websites on how to split a bill n-way than I see for predicting cashflows, organizing tables/chairs, and maximizing toothpaste usage combined. I think it is a fun problem as any other, but what makes it more interesting than others?
Personally, I split bills almost every day, and it's frequently a headache. But I can't remember the last time I thought about maximizing toothpaste usage.
