If There's a Camel?

Question

Every year during his birthday, the Sultan sponsors 3 camel races with the following prizes (listed in order 1st, 2nd, 3rd):

RACE A
$500
300
100

RACE B
$250
150
75

RACE C
$150
100
50

$500 bonus for winning all 3 Races. (SLAM)
$200 bonus for winning 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in any one Race (SWEEP).

ALI BOBO tells you that he owns the 3rd ("Aluminum"), 6th("Boron"), and 9th("Copper") fastest camels. He concedes that KAREEM owns the 1st, 4th, and 7th fastest camels, while SHARIF has the 2nd, 5th, and 8th fastest entries. There are other owners but with far inferior camels.

The Rules

a. Maximum 3 camels per owner.
b. A camel can run only in one race.
c. An owner may enter his camels all in one race or distribute them as he desires.

Last year ALI BOBO's camels won third place in each of the 3 Races. His gross winnings amounted to $225.

ALI BOBO wants a risk-free strategy to increase his total winnings.

QUESTION: What should be ALI BOBO's strategy?

Answer 1

Ali Bobo must enter Copper in Race A, Aluminum in Race B, and Boron in Race C.

SCENARIOS

1. Kareem defends his Slam and fields his camels in RACES A,B, and C according to their speed. Shariff follows that same strategy.

ALI's Aluminum will win in Race B over the K(4th) and S(5th). Boron will win in Race C over K(7th) and S(8th). Copper will still place 3rd in Race A. Total Winnings $500.

2. Kareem defends his SLAM. Shariff follows Ali's strategy.

Aluminum will place second to S(2nd) in Race B. Boron will place second to S(5th) in Race C. Copper will place third to K(1st) and S(8th). Total winnings: $350.

3. Kareem loses his mind and does not go for the grand slam. He enters his 3 camels in Race A. Shariff follows his strategy in Scenario 1.

Copper will not win anything in Race A. Aluminum will win in Race B. Boron will win in Race C. Winnings: $400.

4. Same as Scenario 3 but Shariff has same strategy as Ali.

Copper loses in Race A. Aluminum places second in Race B. Boron places second in Race C. Winnings $250.

5. Kareem camels all in Race A. Shariff's all in race B.

Copper loses in Race A. Aluminum still places second in Race B. Boron wins in Race C. Winnings $300.

6. Kareem defends his slam. Shariff camels all in race B.
Copper will place second in Race A. Aluminum will still be second in Race B. Boron will win over K(7th) Winnings:$600.

7. Kareem and Shariff has same strategy as Ali.

Copper will be third, Aluminum will be third. Boron will be third. Winnings:$225. Same as last year.

There are other scenarios but with the strategy with the worst case scenario for Ali is $225.

Answer 2

Actually the aswer to this question is very simple. If we analyse thoroughly we would know that only KAREEM will be able to pursue SLAM or SWEEP strategy, as for SHARIF AND ALIBOBO only able to pursue SWEEP strategy.

Therefore, ALIBOBO can assume 2 things;

- If the opponent are clever,then they all should pursue SWEEP strategy since this will give them the maximum profit.
e.g -KAREEM SWEEP on race A, total earnings $1100
-SHARIF SWEEP on race B, total earnings $675
-ALIBOBO SWEEP on race C, total earnings $500

- However, if the opponent 'KAREEM' wanted to pursue SLAM strategy, then the best risk free strategy for ALIBOBO to do is to put 'ALUMINIUM' and 'BORON' on race C and 'Copper' on either race A or B or even C for SWEEP. The Reason is very simple, no one in their right mind would put 1st (KAREEM) and 2nd (SHARIF) camels on race C just to win a bet of $150 when those two horses can easily win ( $500 and $300 on race A). This means ALIBOBO are confirmed to receive $150 by putting Aluminium on race C.
Same reason for putting BORON into race C, KAREEM and SHARIF would definitely put their second best camels next races on winning the $250 and $150 on race B (Note: although there might be a chance for ALIBOBO to put ALUMINIUM on race B, but KAREEM and SHARIF would still put their second best camel in race B.Reason is if ALUMINIUM not in race B they will earn $250 or $150 and if ALIBOBO did put ALUMINIUM they will still earn $150 or $75 rather then putting their second best camels onto race C,which if ALUMINIUM is not on that race they will only earn $150 or $100 and if ALUMINIUM is on the race they will only earn $100 or $50, so it is also still much better for them to put their second best camel on race B rather than on the other race). This means another confirmed $100 which total up to $250 ($25 more than previous year).
For the last camel's it won't matter for ALIBOBO to put into which race since it was the slowest of all, but putting it in race C would be more beneficial since there might be a chance for ALIBOBO to get SWEEP and makes his total earnings to $500.

Therefore based on this two points i conclude that the best risk free strategy that ALIBOBO should take is SWEEP strategy on race C. With earning minimal to $250 and up to $50

Answer 3

The "game" demand you to read quietly the text and without emotion like "desire to solve efficiently", you will be audacious. It's complicated the situation, I got a vague idea reading it, maybe I need to notice some small points like "who own which ?" "what is the questions?"
Reading again, I see the game consist of "where to put the camel to win 2nd place". To surpass your opponent who have better camels, you need to beat them where they put inferior camel like in race 3...

My dad ask me (it's like I ask my son), the emotion of dad is maybe exited. Son's emotion is humilated because "being treated vulgarly", "being asked about unimportant topic"

Answer 4

Take out Kareem and steal his camels

Answer 5

Enter a horse disguised as a camel.

Answer 6

i think that Ali should accuse Kareem of injecting steroids into his camels and then when he is nto looking steal all of his camels and sell them to hobos

Answer 7

Do any of the camels ride motorcycles?