Puzzles for Traders

[Patuca 13]

it was a different day - same time.

no i should clarify. it was the exact same day and the exact same time

[addchild 10]

Here is a "simple" probability problem:

 

Suppose you're on a game show, and you're given the choice of three doors: Behind one door is a car; behind the others, goats. You pick a door, say No. 1, and the host, who knows what's behind the doors, opens another door, say No. 3, which has a goat. He then says to you, "Do you want to pick door No. 2?" Is it to your advantage to switch your choice?

 

Is the game always played the same? meaning will the host always open a second door?

 

Assuming the game is played the same every time, it would be neither to your advantage or disadvantage to switch your choice. But your odds of winning are greater.

[BlueHorseshoe 10]

stumbled on this....not so much a brain teaser- or is it?

http://www.traderslaboratory.com/forums/general-discussion/4420-test-your-tool.html

 

I was fine with all of these except the second one. NLP type things always seem to get me. I have concluded that I must be highly suggestible and susceptible to linguistic programming, and for that reason I avoid both hypnotists and trading vendors . . .

 

BlueHorseshoe

[TradeRunner 10]

Is the game always played the same? meaning will the host always open a second door?

 

You have a free choice of one of the 3 doors, once you have made a selection the host will always show you a door with a goat behind it. Does that answer your question?

[TradeRunner 10]

a man came to a bridge that crossed a railroad track. he went across the bridge but yet went around the bridge at exactly the same time. how did he do it?

 

The bridges in bold are two different bridges.

[Patuca 13]

The bridges in bold are two different bridges.

no it is the same exact bridge, same exact day, same exact time.

 

however, you guys are giving some pretty good answers.

[TradeRunner 10]

a man came to a bridge that crossed a railroad track. he went across the bridge but yet went around the bridge at exactly the same time. how did he do it?

 

 

It's a circular bridge

[Patuca 13]

It's a circular bridge

no it is a regular straight bridge.

[SIUYA 11]

Here is a "simple" probability problem:

 

Suppose you're on a game show, and you're given the choice of three doors: Behind one door is a car; behind the others, goats. You pick a door, say No. 1, and the host, who knows what's behind the doors, opens another door, say No. 3, which has a goat. He then says to you, "Do you want to pick door No. 2?" Is it to your advantage to switch your choice?

 

Because you 'know' that the host will open a door that has no prize after your original pick, you should always swap....the odds increase.

Basically - when the host reveals the dud door, there are two doors left and so the odds change from 1:3, to 2:3 chance of winning.

Intuitively we think it does not make a difference - to swap or not. - this is wrong.

 

(Its hard to conceptualise - but here goes)

Remember you have to assume this occurs on many games - and that over the long run you are better switching. This is not a one off odds decision.

 

At the start you have a 1 in 3 chance of picking the right door

Then the host opens the dud door, so now you know he has eliminated one of the dud doors. So what has happened is that you know that there will always be two doors that are eliminated - your pick and the hosts, and that the host will always eliminate a 'dud' door.

So no matter which you choose the host will help you.

 

Basically without any maths, tables or other formulas.

 

If you choose to stay then your odds remain at the 1 in 3

If you choose to swap they increase - you should swap.

 

................

[SIUYA 11]

a man came to a bridge that crossed a railroad track. he went across the bridge but yet went around the bridge at exactly the same time. how did he do it?

 

to go across and around the bridge at the same time he was taking part in a quantum physics experiment?

[BlueHorseshoe 10]

no it is a regular straight bridge.

 

If the man is on board a train, and the track is arranged in a figure of eight so that it crosses itself using the bridge, then the trajectory of the man's journey would be such that any complete loop of the track would take him both over and around the bridge.

 

But that's not literally at the exact same time, so it can't be correct, right?

 

BlueHorseshoe

[Patuca 13]

No he just walked across a normal straight bridge an yet went around it at the exact time on the same exact day. no quantum physics.

[MightyMouse 12]

No he just walked across a normal straight bridge an yet went around it at the exact time on the same exact day. no quantum physics.

 

The year was 1991. He was Iraqi. He was crossing the bridge and he was hit by a missile fired by an American fighter jet at the same time. He was crossing it and he ended up going "around it" at the same time.

[jpennybags 11]

No he just walked across a normal straight bridge an yet went around it at the exact time on the same exact day. no quantum physics.

 

He came to the bridge and decided to walk down to the next bridge and cross there: He crossed a bridge, and went around a bridge at the same time. If that's not it... I give up.

[snowbird 10]

There were three men in the desert. Each had a camel. They all made a bet that whoever's camel could reach the finish line last was the bravest and most worthy man. For days the three men rode there camels as slow as possible and were beginning to run out of water and feel the effects of the hot sun. Luckily, they spotted an oasis and eventually reached it. at this oasis, the men regained there strength, and talked to a very respected wiseman. One telling the man about the problems they were facing (due the the bet) they jumped onto the camels and rode off as fast as they could.

 

What advise did the wise man give these three men, without causing them to call off the bet????

[liahwy 10]

There were three men in the desert. Each had a camel. They all made a bet that whoever's camel could reach the finish line last was the bravest and most worthy man. For days the three men rode there camels as slow as possible and were beginning to run out of water and feel the effects of the hot sun. Luckily, they spotted an oasis and eventually reached it. at this oasis, the men regained there strength, and talked to a very respected wiseman. One telling the man about the problems they were facing (due the the bet) they jumped onto the camels and rode off as fast as they could.

 

What advise did the wise man give these three men, without causing them to call off the bet????

 

He told them to race to the finish line riding one of the camels that belonged to the other person causing his camel to cross the finish line before his own camel.

[SIUYA 11]

There were three men in the desert. Each had a camel. They all made a bet that whoever's camel could reach the finish line last was the bravest and most worthy man. For days the three men rode there camels as slow as possible and were beginning to run out of water and feel the effects of the hot sun. Luckily, they spotted an oasis and eventually reached it. at this oasis, the men regained there strength, and talked to a very respected wiseman. One telling the man about the problems they were facing (due the the bet) they jumped onto the camels and rode off as fast as they could.

 

What advise did the wise man give these three men, without causing them to call off the bet????

 

This is a golden oldy

the wise man said - the first camel to die will always be the last to reach the line by never doing so, so by riding the camels into the ground the first camel to die would never reach the finish line.

Or alternatively.....

he told them to swap camels and race each other, that way the camel that comes first means that the riders camel was more likely to finish last as it was beaten.

 

.........................

.........................

For a probabilty puzzle, another golden oldie......

 

How many people must be gathered together in a room, before you can be certain that there is a greater than 50/50 chance that at least two of them have the same birthday?

[snowbird 10]

Siuya nailed it!

 

I prefer the alternate answer (as it requires the thought process of swapping camels... and doesn't necessarily kill them off in the process!)

[Patuca 13]

He came to the bridge and decided to walk down to the next bridge and cross there: He crossed a bridge, and went around a bridge at the same time. If that's not it... I give up.

 

nope that not it. he crossed the bridge and yet went around the same bridge on the same day at the same exact time. don't feel bad the answer is disgusting simple but i have never had anyone guess it the about 30 years that i've know the puzzle/riddle.

[Patuca 13]

The year was 1991. He was Iraqi. He was crossing the bridge and he was hit by a missile fired by an American fighter jet at the same time. He was crossing it and he ended up going "around it" at the same time.

LOL that is not the answer but i can see where you might think that could be it since you know i think more guns will decrease the violence. :haha:

[MightyMouse 12]

LOL that is not the answer but i can see where you might think that could be it since you know i think more guns will decrease the violence. :haha:

 

I contacted my congressman and requested that he sponsor a request for a 28th amendment: Right to Bear Missiles

 

I know you say it, but I don't think you really think it.

[jpennybags 11]

nope that not it. he crossed the bridge and yet went around the same bridge on the same day at the same exact time. don't feel bad the answer is disgusting simple but i have never had anyone guess it the about 30 years that i've know the puzzle/riddle.

 

OK... I've given up. PM with the answer...

[bobcollett 10]

Hi Patuca

I think the bridge refers to a part of a ship.

You can cross the bridge and walk around it at the same time.

regards

bobc

[Patuca 13]

Hi Patuca

I think the bridge refers to a part of a ship.

You can cross the bridge and walk around it at the same time.

regards

bobc

nope. it is a normal regular bridge you can drive a car over or walk over. the bridge is over a set of railroad tracks.

[snowbird 10]

A train-ship!