When Numb3rs first came out, I was very excited. I enjoyed the idea of someone using mathematics to solve crimes and this show was much more interesting than many other shows that came off of the CSI buzz. The premise was slightly more divergent than the rest, and I enjoyed that.
WWW.DVDCOLECTS.COM
]]>In the U.S., it premiered last week (the week before Christmas) and was on every night at 8pm on NBC. Howie Mandel is the host. I don't know which day/timeslot they plan on putting it when the new episodes start back up. You can go to www.nbc.com/dond/game to try your hand at the online 'practice' version.
To answer 'mathsyperson', I would have sold the case for what the banker offered. But then, I would have sold the case before I got down to 2 cases I'm not much of a risk taker.
If I recall correctly, the player did not trade the cases and took the $26k the banker offered. It turned out she had the lower amount in the case she chose at the beginning of the show.
If you're in the UK, it's on Channel 4. Just look in a TV guide. If not, I can't help you.
Merry Christmas, everyone!
Edit: Judging by your reference to 'soccer' in another topic, I'd guess you're not. Oh well.
]]>The player chooses one [lets say #4] to hold. Then randomly opens all cases except the one they chose and another [let's say 23].
He "randomly" opens all the remaining cases? Why not just open all the remaining cases at once? I'm not following.
Maybe I should just stop asking questions and watch the show.
]]>This contrasts with Monty Hall because the car was guaranteed to stay, so the elimination of a goat proves nothing.
Incidentally, does anyone else watch 'Deal or no Deal?' What do you think the best strategy is?
]]>Hmmm ... if the cases have all been revealed randomly (no inside knowledge from the host), then I think the odds are equal, ie 50% chance of $50k and 50% of $200, and swapping would not improve the chances.
Or maybe not ...
]]>Here's the question: does the player still have a 1/26 chance that they hold $50k? or do they have a 50% chance that they hold $50k? or do they have a 25/26 chance that they hold $50k?
And if the host offers to trade cases with the person, should they give up #4 and take #23 with a better chance that #23 has $50k?
My spouse thinks the answer is a 50% chance that one of the two remaining cases holds $50k, regardless of what went on before. Before searching for this Numb3rs episode, I thought she should trade for a better chance of getting $50k (like the car and goat scenario).
But now I'm not sure -- the player is the only person to choose cases to open so there will not be any cases opened on purpose Does that change how the calculation works?
thanks, and thanks putting up with my ignorance...lol ahaha
Not ignorance: you put an idea forward ... it was discussed ... you reprogrammed ... in the light of new information you changed your mind. This is the opposite of ignorance in my book.
And I liked mikau's "interplanetary" reference!
This is identical to the Monty Hall trap, and this prisoner's chances are still 1/3, but the probability that the third prisoner will be pardoned have gone up to 2/3.
But is it identical? Isn't the decision yet to be made? This really plays havoc with my ideas of cause and effect!
]]>Try this one though (taken from http://www.jimloy.com/puzz/monty.htm):
Martin Gardner's version, published in October 1959, involved three condemned prisoners, one of whom will be pardoned at random. One prisoner cons the warden into naming one of the other prisoners (other than the prisoner who is asking this of the warden) who will not be pardoned. Do this prisoner's (the one talking to the warden) chances of being pardoned then go up to 50%? This is identical to the Monty Hall trap, and this prisoner's chances are still 1/3, but the probability that the third prisoner will be pardoned have gone up to 2/3.
Thoughts?
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