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#1 2006-03-30 09:16:50
- mathsyperson
- Moderator
- Registered: 2005-06-22
- Posts: 4,900
The Giveaway
As it's almost the Easter holidays, let's play a fun game. Here's how it works:
We have some playing cards numbered from 1 to 8. Your cards are odd, mine are even, so we have 4 cards each. As I'm nice, I'll let you choose whichever suit you want. Pick a lucky one!
You start off with £50. At each stage, you bet half of what you have, and then pick a card. If it's odd, you win and I give you what you bet. If it's even then you lose and I take your bet. Then we do that again with the cards that are left. We keep doing this until we've gone through all 8 stages and the cards have run out. We both have 4 cards, so it's perfectly fair.
But as it's nearly Easter and I've finally finished all of my coursework, I'm feeling generous, so let's remove the 8. Now you have 4 cards that you can use to win and I only have 3. You're bound to win!
So, the question is, how much will you have won at the end of this game?
Why did the vector cross the road?
It wanted to be normal.
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#2 2006-04-02 04:12:27
- Patrick
- Real Member
- Registered: 2006-02-24
- Posts: 1,005
Re: The Giveaway
edit: nvm 
will give it another try later
Last edited by Patrick (2006-04-02 04:13:28)
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#3 2006-04-02 04:23:43
- Ricky
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- Registered: 2005-12-04
- Posts: 3,791
Re: The Giveaway
"In the real world, this would be a problem. But in mathematics, we can just define a place where this problem doesn't exist. So we'll go ahead and do that now..."
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#4 2006-04-02 04:54:31
- Patrick
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- Registered: 2006-02-24
- Posts: 1,005
Re: The Giveaway
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#5 2006-04-02 06:08:04
- mathsyperson
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- Registered: 2005-06-22
- Posts: 4,900
Re: The Giveaway
No, that's right actually. I made it look like you had the odds stacked in your favour, but it's actually me that's going to win. Every time. Don't gamble, kids.
Why did the vector cross the road?
It wanted to be normal.
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#6 2006-04-03 00:27:56
- Ninja 101
- Member
- Registered: 2006-02-20
- Posts: 936
Re: The Giveaway
good advice!
sing catchy songs instead! like the soup song.
soup,soup, a tasty soup soup a spicy carrot and corriander,
crouton crouton crunchy little friend in a liquid broth,
i am gespachio, oh,
i am a summer soup, oh,
miso miso fighting in the dojo,
miso miso oriental prince in the land of soup!
Say no to drugs!
and booze!
and all bad things! 
Chaos is found in greatest abundance wherever order is being saught. It always defeats order, because it is better organized.
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#7 2006-04-03 02:42:55
- Patrick
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- Registered: 2006-02-24
- Posts: 1,005
Re: The Giveaway
Okay mathsyperson I couldn't figure out how you were going to win, since I was pretty sure this was right:
Last edited by Patrick (2006-04-03 02:43:28)
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