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JML
04 Aug 11 20:00
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Date Joined: 10 May 05
| Topic/replies: 3,009 | Blogger: JML's blog
A similar conundrum is the problem of the two envelopes on a quiz show. The winner of a quiz chooses one of two envelopes, and looks at the value of the cheque therein. Say that it is £1,000. He knows that the larger prize is twice the smaller prize, so the other envelope must contain £500 or £2,000. He is given the option to change or keep the cheque he has. Most would change, as they gain £1000 or lose £500. But it does not matter, and this is because one gains the logarithm of 2 or loses the logarithm of a half, so one is risking 0.30103 to gain 0.30103.

And yes, mathematically, it would be make no difference if, after opening an envelope with £100, the other one had one penny or £1,000,000. There he would be lose -4 (the log of the ratio) to gain +4 (the log of the ratio, again). And I am surprised that anbody would think otherwise. I thought smart minds use Betfair.


Does any of the above make sense to any of you?
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Report Andriy • August 4, 2011 8:13 PM BST
But for a large sample size, if you always take the option to change, in the long term your return will be £1250.
Report Lori • August 4, 2011 11:23 PM BST
Does any of the above make sense to any of you?

Here are some similar questions and answers from an old thread I fondly remember.

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http://archives2.twoplustwo.com/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=153855&page=0&fpart=1&vc=1
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