Comments on: Now, what do we do? http://easyquestion.net/thinkagain/2007/12/10/now-what-do-we-do/ mathematical dialogues aimed to confuse Wed, 07 Mar 2012 22:43:23 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Greg http://easyquestion.net/thinkagain/2007/12/10/now-what-do-we-do/#comment-117 Greg Tue, 11 Dec 2007 19:41:29 +0000 http://easyquestion.net/thinkagain/2007/12/10/now-what-do-we-do/#comment-117 It depends on what you mean by the question "what is best?" While the person winning 2 of 3 games has won a higher percentage of games, it does not indicate that they are the stronger player. It is more likely for a weaker player to win 2 of 3 games, than for them to win 3 of 5. Over longer tournaments, the person with greater skill (e.g. greater likelihood of winning an individual game) is increasingly likely to win. So, I would congratulate Sarah, as it is more likely that she is the better player. It depends on what you mean by the question “what is best?” While the person winning 2 of 3 games has won a higher percentage of games, it does not indicate that they are the stronger player. It is more likely for a weaker player to win 2 of 3 games, than for them to win 3 of 5. Over longer tournaments, the person with greater skill (e.g. greater likelihood of winning an individual game) is increasingly likely to win.

So, I would congratulate Sarah, as it is more likely that she is the better player.

]]> By: Jan Nordgreen http://easyquestion.net/thinkagain/2007/12/10/now-what-do-we-do/#comment-100 Jan Nordgreen Mon, 10 Dec 2007 13:33:32 +0000 http://easyquestion.net/thinkagain/2007/12/10/now-what-do-we-do/#comment-100 In a comment you can get the ∞ sign by typing & # 8 7 3 4 ; without the spaces between the characters. <a href="http://webdesign.about.com/od/localization/l/blhtmlcodes-math.htm" rel="nofollow">More</a>. In a comment you can get the ∞ sign by typing

& # 8 7 3 4 ;

without the spaces between the characters. More.

]]> By: Beast in Black http://easyquestion.net/thinkagain/2007/12/10/now-what-do-we-do/#comment-96 Beast in Black Mon, 10 Dec 2007 10:52:23 +0000 http://easyquestion.net/thinkagain/2007/12/10/now-what-do-we-do/#comment-96 As Michael so perspicaciously pointed out, a normal human being (and i use the term in its loosest sense) would figure 2/3 is marginally better than 3/5. However, in my twisted universe, things are not as simple as that when it comes to gaming. Anything else, yeah just do straight division and be done with it. But gaming is serious business, dammit! Consider a player's gamesmanship. If you play 5 games, then you have a chance at losing 5 games. If you're playing for a prize (say a nice cut of Kobe beef for the winner), then the steaks are considerably higher if you opt to play more games, since you have a greater chance of losing. Also, if 5 games were indeed played in the tourney, then the "you" mentioned in the post only played 3 of those 5 (giving his/her opponent a walkover in the 2 games that he/she was late for), thus the actual win ratio is 2/5, not 2/3. At least, that's how tourneys work. Go Sarah Go! As Michael so perspicaciously pointed out, a normal human being (and i use the term in its loosest sense) would figure 2/3 is marginally better than 3/5.

However, in my twisted universe, things are not as simple as that when it comes to gaming. Anything else, yeah just do straight division and be done with it. But gaming is serious business, dammit!

Consider a player’s gamesmanship. If you play 5 games, then you have a chance at losing 5 games. If you’re playing for a prize (say a nice cut of Kobe beef for the winner), then the steaks are considerably higher if you opt to play more games, since you have a greater chance of losing.

Also, if 5 games were indeed played in the tourney, then the “you” mentioned in the post only played 3 of those 5 (giving his/her opponent a walkover in the 2 games that he/she was late for), thus the actual win ratio is 2/5, not 2/3. At least, that’s how tourneys work.

Go Sarah Go!

]]> By: Michael http://easyquestion.net/thinkagain/2007/12/10/now-what-do-we-do/#comment-93 Michael Mon, 10 Dec 2007 04:42:01 +0000 http://easyquestion.net/thinkagain/2007/12/10/now-what-do-we-do/#comment-93 The last paragraph was supposed to have an infinity sign in it but this apparently doesn't work on all OS platforms. It looked great on my computer so I did not catch it before submitting. That "?" is infinity. Sorry. The last paragraph was supposed to have an infinity sign in it but this apparently doesn’t work on all OS platforms. It looked great on my computer so I did not catch it before submitting. That “?” is infinity. Sorry.

]]> By: Michael http://easyquestion.net/thinkagain/2007/12/10/now-what-do-we-do/#comment-92 Michael Mon, 10 Dec 2007 04:40:26 +0000 http://easyquestion.net/thinkagain/2007/12/10/now-what-do-we-do/#comment-92 Which person eats more pizza? The one who eats 2 of 3 pieces or the one who eats 3 of 5? Depends on how you measure it, right? ...No it doesn't. By definition, this is a simple division problem. a/b is the only valid way to measure this problem so 2/3=.667 is better. 2/3 is the largest possible value in such a set because for a/b as b approaches ? and a is just enough to "win", the result approaches .500. Which person eats more pizza? The one who eats 2 of 3 pieces or the one who eats 3 of 5?

Depends on how you measure it, right?

…No it doesn’t. By definition, this is a simple division problem.

a/b is the only valid way to measure this problem so 2/3=.667 is better. 2/3 is the largest possible value in such a set because for a/b as b approaches ? and a is just enough to “win”, the result approaches .500.

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