bahamaman
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- Oct 23, 2003
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I was/am watching this inane TV show this evening and a question arose. In the game show, contestants select 1 briefcase out of 26, with each briefcase containing various amounts of money from one cent to one million dollars.
Assume that a contestant selects briefcase number 7 (but, of course, he/she isn't allowed to see how much is in the briefcase). Assume further that, in the course of the game, the contestant has opened up 13 briefcases, none of which contains the million dollar prize.
At this point in the game, would the contestant's odds of winning $1,000,000 be 1 in 26 or would it be 1 in 13? I am tempted to say 1 in 13. But, in another sense, it seems that her odds of winning shouldn't change as new information is revealed.
I nearly flunked stat, so I will apologize in advance if the answer is obvious.
Assume that a contestant selects briefcase number 7 (but, of course, he/she isn't allowed to see how much is in the briefcase). Assume further that, in the course of the game, the contestant has opened up 13 briefcases, none of which contains the million dollar prize.
At this point in the game, would the contestant's odds of winning $1,000,000 be 1 in 26 or would it be 1 in 13? I am tempted to say 1 in 13. But, in another sense, it seems that her odds of winning shouldn't change as new information is revealed.
I nearly flunked stat, so I will apologize in advance if the answer is obvious.