/*! This file is auto-generated */ .wp-block-button__link{color:#fff;background-color:#32373c;border-radius:9999px;box-shadow:none;text-decoration:none;padding:calc(.667em + 2px) calc(1.333em + 2px);font-size:1.125em}.wp-block-file__button{background:#32373c;color:#fff;text-decoration:none} Problem 84 Consider the following two lotte... [FREE SOLUTION] | 91Ó°ÊÓ

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Consider the following two lottery-type games: Game 1 : You pick one number between 1 and \(50 .\) After you have made your choice, a number between 1 and 50 is selected at random. If the selected number matches the number you picked, you win. Game 2 : You pick two numbers between 1 and \(10 .\) After you have made your choices, two different numbers between 1 and 10 are selected at random. If the selected numbers match the two you picked, you win. a. The cost to play either game is \(\$ 1,\) and if you win you will be paid \(\$ 20 .\) If you can only play one of these games, which game would you pick and why? Use relevant probabilities to justify your choice. b. For either of these games, if you plan to play the game 100 times, would you expect to win money or lose money overall? Explain.

Short Answer

Expert verified
We would choose to play Game 1 because it has a higher probability of winning (\(P(Game\,1\,Win) = \frac{1}{50}\) or 0.02) compared to the probability of winning Game 2 (\(P(Game\,2\,Win) = \frac{1}{90}\) or 0.0111). However, the expected value for both games is negative, with Game 1 at -0.6 and Game 2 at -0.7778. This means we would expect to lose money overall if we played either game 100 times.

Step by step solution

01

Calculate Game 1's Probability of Winning

To calculate the probability of winning Game 1, we'll use the total possible outcomes and the number of favorable outcomes. We have 1 favorable outcome (matching the random number) out of 50 possible outcomes (since there are 50 available numbers): \(P(Game\,1\,Win) = \frac{1}{50}\)
02

Calculate Game 2's Probability of Winning

In Game 2, we need to find the probability of correctly picking two different numbers between 1 and 10. The total number of possible outcomes is: \(10 \times 9 = 90\) (because we can't pick the same number twice) The number of favorable outcomes is 1 (matching our two selected numbers). Thus, the probability of winning Game 2 is: \(P(Game\,2\,Win) = \frac{1}{90}\)
03

Compare Game 1 and Game 2 Probabilities

Now that we have the probabilities of winning each game, we can compare them. The probability of winning Game 1 is \(1/50 \approx 0.02\), whereas the probability of winning Game 2 is \(1/90 \approx 0.0111\). Since the probability of winning Game 1 is higher, we would choose to play Game 1.
04

Calculate Expected Gains/Losses for 100 Games

Now let's calculate whether we'd expect to gain or lose money if we played each game 100 times. We know that the cost of playing each game is \(1, so our total expenses after 100 games will be \)100. If we win the game, we get a reward of $20. We would calculate the expected value by multiplying the probability of winning by the winnings and subtracting the cost of playing each game. For Game 1: Expected Value = (Probability of Winning x Winnings) - Cost of Playing = \((1/50 \times 20) - 1 = 0.4 - 1 = -0.6\) For Game 2: Expected Value = (Probability of Winning x Winnings) - Cost of Playing = \((1/90 \times 20) - 1 = 0.2222 - 1 = -0.7778\) In both cases, the expected values are negative, which means that after playing 100 games, we would expect to lose money overall. In Game 1, we would lose \(0.6 per game, and in Game 2, we would lose \)0.7778 per game on average if we played 100 times. So, if we have to choose one game to play, we would select Game 1 because it has a higher probability of winning. However, we can see that based on the expected values for both games, we would expect to lose money overall if we played either of them 100 times.

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

Expected Value in Gaming
When choosing a game of chance, it's essential to understand the expected value, which represents the average amount one can expect to win or lose per bet in the long run. Calculating the expected value allows players to assess the fairness or potential profitability of a game.

For instance, in the textbook exercise, we consider the two lottery-type games. The expected value for each game is determined by multiplying the probability of winning by the payout (20), then subtracting the cost to play (1). Since both games have a negative expected value, players are likely to lose money over time. In Game 1, players lose an average of 0.6 per play, while in Game 2, the average loss is 0.7778 per play. Making an informed decision involves choosing the game with the higher expected value, even if it's still a net loss, because it minimizes potential losses over time.
Probability Calculations in Games
Probability calculations are the backbone of understanding games of chance. These calculations help players determine the likelihood of winning and are expressed as a fraction or a percentage.

In our exercise's context, we use basic combinatorial principles to calculate the probability of winning. For Game 1, the probability is simply 1 out of 50, or 2%. In Game 2, since two distinct numbers are chosen, we calculate the odds by recognizing there are 90 distinct possible pairs when choosing two numbers from 1 to 10. However, only one of those pairs will be the winning combination, leading to a probability of 1 in 90, or about 1.11%. Correctly understanding this process is crucial for assessing the odds and making strategic decisions when faced with multiple game options.
Comparing Probabilities to Make Decisions
Comparing probabilities is a key decision-making tool in games. When faced with multiple options, like the games in the exercise, players should weigh the probabilities to identify which game offers a better chance of winning.

In the exercise, we compared the probability of winning Game 1 (1 in 50) with that of Game 2 (1 in 90). Upon comparison, it's clear that Game 1 provides a higher chance of success. Despite both outcomes being negative when considering the expected values, the comparison leads to the rational choice of opting for Game 1. Engaging in comparative analysis of probabilities can help in choosing the less risky option, even when neither guarantees a win, thus exposing the player to less potential financial loss over time.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

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