WIDDLES!!! What has it got in its pocketss?
#142
Posted 25 May 2005 - 12:12 AM
Not quite. Its more a logic problem. Plus, Icey has already given you the working and the answer. For more of a mathy one:
A king decides that to give his death row prisoners a chance at life, if they're lucky and smart. He gives them 20 bottles, 10 of poison and 10 of water, and two boxes. The prisoner then has to place the bottles in the boxes how ever they want. The king will then choose a box at random, then draw a bottle(also at random)from the chosen box. How should the prisoner distribute the bottles to give the best chance for life?
A king decides that to give his death row prisoners a chance at life, if they're lucky and smart. He gives them 20 bottles, 10 of poison and 10 of water, and two boxes. The prisoner then has to place the bottles in the boxes how ever they want. The king will then choose a box at random, then draw a bottle(also at random)from the chosen box. How should the prisoner distribute the bottles to give the best chance for life?
This post has been edited by SimeSublime: 25 May 2005 - 12:15 AM
The Green Knight, SimeSublime the Puffinesque, liker of chips and hunter of gnomes.
JM's official press secretary, scientific advisor, diplomat and apparent antagonist?
JM's official press secretary, scientific advisor, diplomat and apparent antagonist?
#143
Posted 25 May 2005 - 12:47 AM
put 9 water and all of the poison in one box, and put a bottle of water in the other box. There's a 50/50 chance of getting water on your first trial, and a... let me work it out here a moment... if you don't choose the water box, you've still got a 47% chance of getting a water bottle and not a poison bottle. Overall, you have a 26% chance of getting the poison and a 74% chance of getting the water.
How's that?
How's that?
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