OT: Yet another probability puzzle

primelord · 10-14-2003, 04:29 PM

You are carrying 50 coins that equal $1.00 in value. You drop one of the coins down the sewer. What are the chances that you lost a quarter?

RPI-Fan · 10-14-2003, 04:33 PM

1/50 ???

primelord · 10-14-2003, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by RPI-Fan
1/50 ???

Nope.

Franklinnoble · 10-14-2003, 04:38 PM

Knowing my luck, about 99%.

albionmoonlight · 10-14-2003, 04:39 PM

Are these the "normal" coins--penny, nickel, dime, quarter?

Any half-pennies or half-dollars?

HornedFrog Purple · 10-14-2003, 04:40 PM

zero probability?

bryce · 10-14-2003, 04:44 PM

45 pennies
2 nickels
2 dimes
1 quarter

50 coins, 1 of which is a quarter
how is 1/50 not right?...?

Daimyo · 10-14-2003, 04:46 PM

I guess depending on the makeup of the coins its either 0 or 2% since there are two combinations that can get $1 with 50 coins and we have no information to weigh the probability of which makeup we have.

0q, 2d, 8n, 40p
1q, 2d, 2n, 45p

digamma · 10-14-2003, 04:47 PM

I think 1/50 may not be right because there are other ways to make $1.00 out of 50 coins.

Would the correct answer be 1/50 times x, where x is the number of ways to make $1.00 out of 50 coins.

I know 40 pennies, 8 nickels and 2 dimes gets us there. Any others?

bryce · 10-14-2003, 04:50 PM

if these are the only two possible permutations to get $1.00 out of 50 coins, then i'd say the odds are 1%.

AnalBumCover · 10-14-2003, 07:15 PM

1/100

[edit] err... what bryce said.

primelord · 10-15-2003, 09:43 AM

Sorry guys I didn't get a chance to log back on last night. Yes 1/100 or 1% is correct. With 50 coins adding up to a dollar you either have 1 quarter or no quarters. And since each permutation is just as likely the answer is 1/100.

AnalBumCover · 10-15-2003, 09:49 AM

I'm 2 for 2 in primelord's puzzles (well, 1.5 for 2, since I didn't catch bryce's answer early enough).

John Galt · 10-15-2003, 09:53 AM

10-14-2003, 04:33 PM	#2
RPI-Fan Pro Starter Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Troy, NY	1/50 ??? __________________ Quis custodiets ipsos custodes?

10-14-2003, 04:46 PM	#8
Daimyo College Starter Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Berkeley	I guess depending on the makeup of the coins its either 0 or 2% since there are two combinations that can get $1 with 50 coins and we have no information to weigh the probability of which makeup we have. 0q, 2d, 8n, 40p 1q, 2d, 2n, 45p Last edited by Daimyo : 10-14-2003 at 04:49 PM.

10-14-2003, 07:15 PM	#11
AnalBumCover College Starter Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: La Mirada, CA	1/100 [edit] err... what bryce said. __________________ ABC's Game Giveaway list Last edited by AnalBumCover : 10-14-2003 at 07:23 PM.

10-15-2003, 09:43 AM	#12
primelord Pro Rookie Join Date: Oct 2000	Sorry guys I didn't get a chance to log back on last night. Yes 1/100 or 1% is correct. With 50 coins adding up to a dollar you either have 1 quarter or no quarters. And since each permutation is just as likely the answer is 1/100. __________________ .

10-15-2003, 09:53 AM	#14
John Galt Pro Starter Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: The Internets	2/3? __________________ I do mind, the Dude minds. This will not stand, ya know, this aggression will not stand, man. - The Dude

10-14-2003, 04:38 PM	#4
Franklinnoble Banned Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Placerville, CA	Knowing my luck, about 99%.

10-14-2003, 04:39 PM	#5
albionmoonlight Head Coach Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: North Carolina	Are these the "normal" coins--penny, nickel, dime, quarter? Any half-pennies or half-dollars?

10-14-2003, 04:40 PM	#6
HornedFrog Purple Hattrick Moderator Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Fort Worthless, Tx	zero probability?

10-14-2003, 04:44 PM	#7
bryce High School Varsity Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Dallas, TX	45 pennies 2 nickels 2 dimes 1 quarter 50 coins, 1 of which is a quarter how is 1/50 not right?...?

10-14-2003, 04:47 PM	#9
digamma Torchbearer Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: On Lake Harriet	I think 1/50 may not be right because there are other ways to make $1.00 out of 50 coins. Would the correct answer be 1/50 times x, where x is the number of ways to make $1.00 out of 50 coins. I know 40 pennies, 8 nickels and 2 dimes gets us there. Any others?

10-14-2003, 04:50 PM	#10
bryce High School Varsity Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Dallas, TX	if these are the only two possible permutations to get $1.00 out of 50 coins, then i'd say the odds are 1%.

10-15-2003, 09:49 AM	#13
AnalBumCover College Starter Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: La Mirada, CA	I'm 2 for 2 in primelord's puzzles (well, 1.5 for 2, since I didn't catch bryce's answer early enough).

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