In a basketball tournament, there are teams named 1 through 8, such that a lower number team is better than a higher numbered team. (1 is best, 2 is second best... 8 is worst) Also, a better team will always win over a worse team. (There are no upsets)

?-\__
?-/  |
     |--\
?-\__|  |
?-/     |
        |-WINNER
?-\__   |
?-/  |  |
     |--/
?-\__|
?-/

Here is the grid for the tournament

If the better team always wins (there are no upsets) and if the pairing is completely random, what is the easiest way to figure the probability that team 2 doesn't win second place?

this seems super easy..ok..if u have the number two team, then no one else can beat them except 1, so ur chances of the not winnin second place is 1/2 or one out of two..the only way that 2 wont make finals is if 1 is in the same half of the bracket of 2.  if they are together in the top half of the bracket, then 2 wont get it..easy easy easy

Posted by nate on 2004-06-15 12:58:01