On Jepordy , why do the ppl risk so much money when they just put a question mark?

Question

on jepordy they will put a ? and then risk like all of there money.
(Example)
What is
?
$1,000
if 1,000 is all they have , why do they risk it if they don`t know the question?

Answer 1

they bet the money before they get the question

Answer 2

They have to put an amount of money in BEFORE they ever see the question. they don't know if they'll know the answer or not. It's kind of a gamble. All they get to see is the category and then decide how much they think they know about that subject.

Answer 3

Actually, Jeopardy involves some betting, because you risk the money, THEN get the question... so, if you asume you know a bit on a subject, you will jeopardize more money than say, if the category were, say, Sweedish water fixtures.

Answer 4

You bet the money on only knowing the category of the question, hopefully you can answer it, then you find out what the question is.

Answer 5

Maybe they make their wager before attempting to answer the Final Jeopardy question.

Answer 6

You bet the money before you answer the question.

Answer 7

They make the bet before they know the question.
If it's a category they are good at, they bet a lot--but then if they DON'T know it, they lose the money.

Answer 8

i always wondered the same thing. i mean, if you don't know the answer then don't wager anything. unless they make you wager first and then they tell you what the question is. hmm~ i mean these really smart people can't be that stupid...or can they?

Answer 9

because they think they know the answer and they r not gonna win any money if they don't bet and then there is the little old saying that says, "I came with nothing and I have everything to gain and nothing to lose."

Answer 10

because they had to decide their wager before they knew what the "answer" was. that is, alex tells them the category, then they wager, then they try to provide a correct response.