Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post - Another of those crazy paradoxes (similar to Monty Hall problem)

rsl12 · 12-11-2003, 01:50 PM

I *don't* think the math is right. If you look at the problem *without* assuming that there is $X in cup A, then you could argue something like this:

There's two possible scenarios: cup A has $X and cup B has $2X, or else cup A has $2X and cup B has $X. The expected value in both the cups is $1.5X, so it doesn't matter which one I choose.

That makes TOTAL sense, right? So where's the mathmatical flaw in the original argument?

12-11-2003, 01:50 PM	#4 (permalink)
rsl12 On the lam Location: northern va	I don't think the math is right. If you look at the problem without assuming that there is $X in cup A, then you could argue something like this: There's two possible scenarios: cup A has $X and cup B has $2X, or else cup A has $2X and cup B has $X. The expected value in both the cups is $1.5X, so it doesn't matter which one I choose. That makes TOTAL sense, right? So where's the mathmatical flaw in the original argument? __________________ oh baby oh baby, i like gravy.