Two men are playing Russian roulette using a pistol with six chambers.
A single bullet is used and the chamber is spun after every turn.

What is the probability that the first man will lose?

(In reply to re: A footnote to this problem by Popstar Dave)

Popstar Dave: "I don't like the idea of people shooting themselves, so here's my version of the problem: Two men are trying to find a gold coin in a container that contains the gold coin and five other coins of the same weight.... There we go, no dead people!"

And then one of the guys pulls out the gold coin. This enrages the other guy, and he pulls a Samurai sword out of his pocket and lops the fellows head off !

Whoops....a dead person !!

:0(

Posted by Dan on 2003-11-13 09:54:00