Probability problem

Probability problem

Posers and Puzzles

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and RedHotTed

Red Hot Rebel Clan

Joined
06 Apr 01
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234506
29 Jan 03
1 edit

Originally posted by Acolyte
note that if they both get the same number of heads, Rhymester wins.
That bit of info was sneakily concealed by using the word otherwise - that's my story anyway 😉

But would it have been 33.3% if that hadn't have been the case?

Rhymester

Joined
16 Jan 02
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841363
29 Jan 03

i got it right for all the wrong reasons

J
..Itching

Reading, UK

Joined
15 Oct 01
Moves
25998
30 Jan 03

Originally posted by Acolyte
The answer is 50/50: note that if they both get the same number of heads, Rhymester wins.
Vaknso gets an extra toss; if he gets tails, he's at a disadvantage because he now has to get more heads than Rhymester to win; if he gets heads, he's at an advantage because (over the remaining 9 tosses each) Rhymester has to get more heads than him to win.
Guys,

I think I have fairly simple explanation for it:

Every toss has probability 50%.
It does not matter how many time they toss the coin. the only condition is the total number of them must be odd.
You will find the answer more easy if you forget who tosses for how many times. It does not matter. One player can do it all and it makes no difference, because:
HEAD = I win
TAILS = you win

So, if they tos once, each has 50% to win. 3x times, because again each has 50% in every turn etc etc.

😛

Now With Added BA

Loughborough

Joined
04 Jul 02
Moves
3790
30 Jan 03

Originally posted by Jira
Guys,

I think I have fairly simple explanation for it:

Every toss has probability 50%.
It does not matter how many time they toss the coin. the only condition is the total number of them must be odd.
You will find the answer more easy if you forget who tosses for how many times. It does not matter. One player can do it all and it makes no difference, be ...[text shortened]... tos once, each has 50% to win. 3x times, because again each has 50% in every turn etc etc.

😛
ok, how about if Vaknso tosses the coin 90 times and Rhymester 81? 😛

Site Admin

Wimbledon

Joined
21 Feb 01
Moves
26275
30 Jan 03
1 edit

Originally posted by Acolyte
ok, how about if Vaknso tosses the coin 90 times and Rhymester 81? 😛
In that case, the probabilities are...

Vaknso Wins = 54.4%, or 4059/7462
Rhymester Wins = 44.5%, or 3321/7462
Draw = 1.1%, or 82/7462


Now With Added BA

Loughborough

Joined
04 Jul 02
Moves
3790
30 Jan 03

Originally posted by Chrismo
In that case, the probabilities are...

Vaknso Wins = 54.4%, or 4059/7462
Rhymester Wins = 44.5%, or 3321/7462
Draw = 1.1%, or 82/7462


Did you use a spreadsheet or something to give you the answer? 😠

m

Joined
14 Dec 04
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2771
16 Jan 05