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#1 2006-09-25 05:31:19

Devantè
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Registered: 2006-07-14
Posts: 6,400

Heads I win, Tails you lose

A game is played between Jacob and Jack with a single coin. If a coin is flipped and lands on heads, then Jacob wins. If a coin is flipped and lands on tails, then Jack loses. After 10 flips of the coin, Jacob always wins, and Jack always loses.

Is there a way for Jack to win in the game? If so, how? And why?

If you can answer that question, then proceed to questions b, c and d.

b) Is it possible that Jack doesn't lose? How?
c) Is it possible for a draw?
d) How can Jack and Jacob both lose without cheating?

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#2 2006-09-25 06:33:28

espeon
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Registered: 2006-02-05
Posts: 2,586

Re: Heads I win, Tails you lose

a)get 2 of the same type of coins and stick them together using super super glue heads faced up.
b)no
c)if they both get 5 each

smile


Presenting the Prinny dance.
Take this dood! Huh doood!!! HUH DOOOOD!?!? DOOD HUH!!!!!! DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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#3 2006-09-25 06:38:20

Devantè
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Registered: 2006-07-14
Posts: 6,400

Re: Heads I win, Tails you lose

I'm sorry, but all three of your answers are incorrect. Lets say that ∞ games are played.

Think again.

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#4 2006-09-25 06:49:34

espeon
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Registered: 2006-02-05
Posts: 2,586

Re: Heads I win, Tails you lose

aw but a DOES work unless u get a blacksmith and then make him smelt the single coin with 2 head signs


Presenting the Prinny dance.
Take this dood! Huh doood!!! HUH DOOOOD!?!? DOOD HUH!!!!!! DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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#5 2006-09-25 19:03:05

Devantè
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Registered: 2006-07-14
Posts: 6,400

Re: Heads I win, Tails you lose

That is called cheating. Try to solve the puzzle with an ordinary coin, without altering the coin in any way.

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#6 2006-09-25 19:42:20

justlookingforthemoment
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Registered: 2005-05-26
Posts: 2,161

Re: Heads I win, Tails you lose

Devante wrote:

.... heads, then Jacob wins ... tails, then Jack loses.

heads = Jacob wins
tails = Jacob wins

So, no.

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#7 2006-09-26 03:18:15

espeon
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Registered: 2006-02-05
Posts: 2,586

Re: Heads I win, Tails you lose

thats a good point thats a trick question lol


Presenting the Prinny dance.
Take this dood! Huh doood!!! HUH DOOOOD!?!? DOOD HUH!!!!!! DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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#8 2006-09-26 11:56:01

Ricky
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Registered: 2005-12-04
Posts: 3,791

Re: Heads I win, Tails you lose

b) Is it possible that Jack doesn't lose? How?
c) Is it possible for a draw?
d) How can Jack and Jacob both lose without cheating?

b & c: Coin lands on it's side
d: They put the coin in a solt machine.


"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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#9 2006-09-26 18:02:02

Devantè
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Registered: 2006-07-14
Posts: 6,400

Re: Heads I win, Tails you lose

Ricky wrote:

b & c: Coin lands on it's side
d: They put the coin in a solt machine.

B and C are indeed correct.

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#10 2006-10-22 08:48:46

siva.eas
Member
Registered: 2005-09-17
Posts: 166

Re: Heads I win, Tails you lose

Could you answer the rest of the questions?

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#11 2006-10-25 05:08:26

Devantè
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Registered: 2006-07-14
Posts: 6,400

Re: Heads I win, Tails you lose

Not yet, not until someone can come up with a really clever solution.

Ricky: About your answer to D; You're getting the correct concept of the solution (in other words, your close, in a way). Right, I'm not going to give out any more hints. tongue

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#12 2006-10-25 05:37:44

Ricky
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Registered: 2005-12-04
Posts: 3,791

Re: Heads I win, Tails you lose

They flip the coin and it goes down a storm drain.


"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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#13 2006-10-25 05:43:02

Devantè
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Registered: 2006-07-14
Posts: 6,400

Re: Heads I win, Tails you lose

Well, actually there are several answers for this. You're right, in a sense, about saying how they could dispose of the coin. I'm going to give you my answer now.

My answer is that the coin will land on its side. When you think about it, isn't a draw almost the same as both sides losing?

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#14 2006-10-25 06:04:56

Ricky
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Registered: 2005-12-04
Posts: 3,791

Re: Heads I win, Tails you lose

No.


"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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#15 2006-10-25 06:17:18

Devantè
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Registered: 2006-07-14
Posts: 6,400

Re: Heads I win, Tails you lose

There are loads of arguments for this puzzle; The question is, which ones would be 'correct' in a sense?

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