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Population control (Posted on 2002-05-05) Difficulty: 4 of 5
In one nation, having a daughter is traditionally prefferable to having a son. Therefore, a couple will continue to have children until a daughter is born. Once they have a daughter, they will stop. (Assume that it is possible for a couple to have an unlimited number of children)

If the chance of a boy or a girl being born is equal, what would be the ratio boys to girls in this country?

See The Solution Submitted by levik    
Rating: 3.5714 (7 votes)

Comments: ( Back to comment list | You must be logged in to post comments.)
one half | Comment 1 of 14
the surprising, statistically sound answer is - one half. The argument is meaningless, but it requires something about 1=1/2+1/4+1/8+...
  Posted by theBal on 2002-05-06 17:42:41
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