All about flooble | fun stuff | Get a free chatterbox | Free JavaScript | Avatars    
perplexus dot info

Home > Probability
Who wins? (Posted on 2004-07-08) Difficulty: 3 of 5
A "friend" offers to play the following game: you throw a die, and he throws two dice. If both his dice are either higher or lower than yours, he wins; otherwise, you win.

First, you reason: out of three dice, one will always be the "middle" one, and only one out of three times it will be mine, so my odds are just 1/3 -- I shouldn't play.

After a while, you realize that you forgot about duplicate numbers. About 50% of the time, all three dice will be different, and then you have 1/3 chance of winning. But on the other 50%, you assuredly win, so the game stands 2/3 in your favor.

It's clear that BOTH lines of reasoning cannot be right, if any. Should you play, or shouldn't you?

Note: you can solve this mathemathically, or you can use "lateral thinking"; can you find both ways?

See The Solution Submitted by Federico Kereki    
Rating: 4.0000 (2 votes)

Comments: ( You must be logged in to post comments.)
  Subject Author Date
Puzzle ThoughtsK Sengupta2024-02-22 07:21:21
"Lateral" - Maybebernie2004-10-11 07:04:49
Some Thoughtsre: easy math but laterally???Bon2004-08-05 17:07:06
re: easy math but laterally???Richard2004-07-09 14:08:47
Solutioneasy math but laterally???David2004-07-08 21:35:16
SolutionCounting the WaysRichard2004-07-08 14:59:23
re(2): MathematicallyCharlie2004-07-08 12:39:58
re: MathematicallyBryan2004-07-08 12:05:04
SolutionMathematicallyCharlie2004-07-08 08:41:18
SolutionBoth solutions?fwaff2004-07-08 08:37:21
Please log in:
Login:
Password:
Remember me:
Sign up! | Forgot password


Search:
Search body:
Forums (0)
Newest Problems
Random Problem
FAQ | About This Site
Site Statistics
New Comments (8)
Unsolved Problems
Top Rated Problems
This month's top
Most Commented On

Chatterbox:
Copyright © 2002 - 2024 by Animus Pactum Consulting. All rights reserved. Privacy Information