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General Category => Off the Record => Topic started by: Syt on November 01, 2011, 07:32:53 AM

Title: Question about statistics
Post by: Syt on November 01, 2011, 07:32:53 AM
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fflowingdata.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2011%2F10%2FBest-Math-Question-EVAR-625x352.jpg&hash=d8496b5b6b2f33dd01dceb7b8f5e2f90079e34b6)

;)
Title: Re: Question about statistics
Post by: DGuller on November 01, 2011, 10:19:39 AM
Damn, I've spent hours trying to get an answer.  I feel like I'm almost there now.
Title: Re: Question about statistics
Post by: HVC on November 01, 2011, 10:27:14 AM
75.  That's my answer and I'm sticking to it lol
Title: Re: Question about statistics
Post by: Malthus on November 01, 2011, 10:27:54 AM
Heh, I like that problem.  :D

Title: Re: Question about statistics
Post by: fhdz on November 01, 2011, 10:35:47 AM
Quote from: DGuller on November 01, 2011, 10:19:39 AM
Damn, I've spent hours trying to get an answer.  I feel like I'm almost there now.

:D
Title: Re: Question about statistics
Post by: alfred russel on November 01, 2011, 11:05:55 AM
Quote from: DGuller on November 01, 2011, 10:19:39 AM
Damn, I've spent hours trying to get an answer.  I feel like I'm almost there now.

It is like zen buddhist meditation for math nerds.
Title: Re: Question about statistics
Post by: fhdz on November 01, 2011, 12:09:23 PM
This is my favorite Languish post in a long time.
Title: Re: Question about statistics
Post by: DGuller on November 01, 2011, 12:10:01 PM
Fuck, I give up.
Title: Re: Question about statistics
Post by: fhdz on November 01, 2011, 12:12:09 PM
Quote from: DGuller on November 01, 2011, 12:10:01 PM
Fuck, I give up.

Wait, wait. You're almost there.
Title: Re: Question about statistics
Post by: Ideologue on November 01, 2011, 12:41:57 PM
 :lol: Good.
Title: Re: Question about statistics
Post by: Josephus on November 01, 2011, 12:45:50 PM
No Jaron option? :(
Title: Re: Question about statistics
Post by: Pishtaco on November 01, 2011, 01:14:21 PM
None of the answers given can be correct. Perhaps there is a problem with the question?
Title: Re: Question about statistics
Post by: Malthus on November 01, 2011, 01:26:07 PM
Quote from: Pishtaco on November 01, 2011, 01:14:21 PM
None of the answers given can be correct. Perhaps there is a problem with the question?

Heh, the joke is that there is no "correct" answer, so you can't work out a percent chance of getting one. 
Title: Re: Question about statistics
Post by: alfred russel on November 01, 2011, 02:56:28 PM
The only winning move is not to play. How about a nice game of chess?
Title: Re: Question about statistics
Post by: PJL on November 01, 2011, 05:40:32 PM
C should have been 75%. That would have made things even more complicated.
Title: Re: Question about statistics
Post by: Josquius on November 01, 2011, 06:58:16 PM
So what 'should' the correct answer be then? (assuming the question is just right chance of picking a,b,c or d and they don't contain the answers in themselves...or something)
]I'm guessing some quite complicated maths springs from the order they're presented, two being the same, etc....
Title: Re: Question about statistics
Post by: Ideologue on November 01, 2011, 07:25:08 PM
Quote from: Tyr on November 01, 2011, 06:58:16 PM
So what 'should' the correct answer be then? (assuming the question is just right chance of picking a,b,c or d and they don't contain the answers in themselves...or something)
]I'm guessing some quite complicated maths springs from the order they're presented, two being the same, etc....

It's a loop.  If the answer 25% is correct (as it would normally be), then you actually have a 50% chance of getting it right by random selection, since 25% appears twice.  If 50% is correct, then 25% must be incorrect, and you would not have a 50% chance of guessing correctly.
Title: Re: Question about statistics
Post by: fhdz on November 01, 2011, 11:24:50 PM
Quote from: Tyr on November 01, 2011, 06:58:16 PM
So what 'should' the correct answer be then?

It's a paradox.
Title: Re: Question about statistics
Post by: Josquius on November 02, 2011, 02:47:39 AM
Gah, I was over thinking it.
Makes sense.
Title: Re: Question about statistics
Post by: Martinus on November 02, 2011, 04:17:13 AM
There is and cannot be a correct answer, because this is a classic self-referencing paradox.

It's the mathematical equivalent of "This sentence is a lie."
Title: Re: Question about statistics
Post by: Martinus on November 02, 2011, 04:18:00 AM
Quote from: fahdiz on November 01, 2011, 11:24:50 PM
Quote from: Tyr on November 01, 2011, 06:58:16 PM
So what 'should' the correct answer be then?

It's a paradox.

Maybe we will get the right answer in two more patches, then.  :)
Title: Re: Question about statistics
Post by: Malthus on November 02, 2011, 08:49:24 AM
Quote from: Martinus on November 02, 2011, 04:18:00 AM
Quote from: fahdiz on November 01, 2011, 11:24:50 PM
Quote from: Tyr on November 01, 2011, 06:58:16 PM
So what 'should' the correct answer be then?

It's a paradox.

Maybe we will get the right answer in two more patches, then.  :)

:lol:
Title: Re: Question about statistics
Post by: fhdz on November 02, 2011, 10:01:02 AM
Quote from: Martinus on November 02, 2011, 04:18:00 AM
Maybe we will get the right answer in two more patches, then.  :)

:D
Title: Re: Question about statistics
Post by: sbr on November 02, 2011, 09:37:03 PM
Quote from: Martinus on November 02, 2011, 04:18:00 AM
Quote from: fahdiz on November 01, 2011, 11:24:50 PM
Quote from: Tyr on November 01, 2011, 06:58:16 PM
So what 'should' the correct answer be then?

It's a paradox.

Maybe we will get the right answer in two more patches, then.  :)

:lol:  I'm glad I read the whole thread, I was going to post something similar.
Title: Re: Question about statistics
Post by: jimmy olsen on November 02, 2011, 09:54:04 PM
Quote from: PJL on November 01, 2011, 05:40:32 PM
C should have been 75%. That would have made things even more complicated.
I agree. :yes:
Title: Re: Question about statistics
Post by: alfred russel on November 03, 2011, 09:28:16 AM
Quote from: jimmy olsen on November 02, 2011, 09:54:04 PM
Quote from: PJL on November 01, 2011, 05:40:32 PM
C should have been 75%. That would have made things even more complicated.
I agree. :yes:

Or it should be 0%. Whoa.