The game “odd man” is played as follows: Three people all flip a coin. If one of the players has a different outcome than the other two, that player is the loser. Otherwise, the game is a draw. What is the probability that a game of odd man ends in a draw?
2006-06-12 22:54:45 · 10 answers · asked by Wolfie 7 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Mathematics
Most of them got it right.
This is another way to think about the result.
First player = T or H doesn't matter
Second Player = Must be that same as the First Player
= only 2 possibility (H or T)
= 1/2
Third Player = Must be the same as First Player
= again, only 2 possibility ( H or T )
= 1/2
In order for the Second Player and Third Player to have the same result as First Plaer = 1/2 x 1/2
= 1/4.
2006-06-13 01:01:36 · answer #1 · answered by Ho K 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Possible outcomes per coin flipped = 2
possible outcomes for 3 players = 2^3 or 8
possible outcomes of having a draw = 2 (3 heads or 3 tails)
prob. of the game ending in a draw = 2/8 = 1/4
Therefore, the probability that a game of odd man ends in a draw is 1/4 ^_^
2006-06-13 06:01:43 · answer #2 · answered by kevin! 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
reading all those incorrect answers is really depressing
only one right answer out of six? that is really sad.
the worst part is firstd1mension actually listing out the possibilities, leaving one off the list, and then counting his own list incorrectly, making his answer off by two.
hay caramba.
however, i think the probability of a draw is higher if the people answering this question are the contestants in the coin flipping. the probability that they will lose their coins when they flip them and not even know if they had heads or tails is about 80%, also resulting in a draw, making the overall probability of a draw 85%.
2006-06-13 06:38:15 · answer #3 · answered by optionrightio 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The odds are 1 in 4.
HHH - draw
HHT - Player 3 loses
HTH - Player 2 loses
HTT - Player 1 loses
TTT - draw
TTH - Player 3 loses
THT - Player 2 loses
THH - Player 1 loses
2006-06-13 06:57:26 · answer #4 · answered by GV25 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
there are totally six possibilities.
A winner can be decided only when all 3 coins are heads or all 3 coins are tails.so,probablity is 2/6 = 1/3
2006-06-13 06:41:26 · answer #5 · answered by mukunth 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
2 out of every 9 times it will end in a draw --- about 18%
2006-06-13 06:00:32 · answer #6 · answered by daddyspanksalot 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
8/1
2006-06-13 05:57:26 · answer #7 · answered by leighdevaney 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
6 possibilities in all. its a draw iff all3 get heads or all 3 get tails. so, prob. of a draw =2/6 = 1/3
2006-06-13 06:10:52 · answer #8 · answered by shazzam 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
HHH- draw
TTT- draw
HHT- no draw
TTH- no draw
HTH- no draw
THT- no draw
HTT- no draw
The odds are 2 in 6, or 1 in 3.
2006-06-13 06:00:04 · answer #9 · answered by Firstd1mension 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i hate statistics.
2006-06-13 06:00:30 · answer #10 · answered by with_dark_motives 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋