Re: Are you a "Mental Gymnast"?

[David Purdue <dpurdue -at- iplanet -dot- com>]

Maggie Pierce Secara wrote:
>
> Mental Gymnast Workout
>
> Please explain your reaction to the following problem
> in your cover letter:
>
> Pretend you are on a game show where you need to
> choose between three doors to win a prize. Only one of
> the doors hides a prize. The host of the show knows
> which door has the prize, but you don't.
>
> After you choose a door, the host opens one of the
> doors you did not choose. The door opened does not
> have the prize behind it. Next the host gives you a
> chance to change your mind. Assuming you want the
> prize, should you change your mind?
>
> Please send your cover letter with answer and resume
> to: <company name>
> *********
>
> Kind of an interesting twist on the same old thing,
> isn't it.
>
> They're also hiring at least one writer, who isn't
> asked to play this game, although it might be cool to
> do it anyway.  Presumably there's no "right" answer.
> Thoughts?


There is a right answer, and the right answer is that you
should change your mind.  That way you are more likely to win
the prize.

Look at it this way.

When you choose your door, there is a 1/3 chance you chose right.
Therefore there is a 2/3 chance the prize is behind one of the
other doors.

The game show host shows you one door that the prize is definitely
not behind, which leaves one more door - the door that is not the
one you chose and not the one the host showed you. There is a
2/3 chance the prize is behind that door - so go on, pick it!

DavidP
--
David Purdue, Service Account Manager
Sun Microsystems Australia Pty Ltd
Ph: +61 3 9869 6412;  Fax: +61 3 9869 6288;  mailto:david -dot- purdue -at- sun -dot- com



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