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Made in nl
Esteemed Veteran Space Marine





the Netherlands

If you where to choose an answer to this question at random, what is the chance you will be correct?

A) 25%
B) 60%
C) 50%
D) 25%

please dont forget to motivate your answer or it will be dismissed

   
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Nasty Nob on Warbike with Klaw





Buzzard's Knob

Actually, B should be 75%.

WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGHHHHH!!!!!!!!!! 
   
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Ancient Ultramarine Venerable Dreadnought






E) 42%

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2011/11/01 02:16:54


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Made in gb
Decrepit Dakkanaut




Swindon, Wiltshire, UK

Paradox.

If there are three options, P(25%)=0.5 P(60%)=0.25 and P(50%)=0.25. If A&D are correct then the probability would be 0.5 hower P(0.5)=0.25 and obviously 0.5 does not equal 0.25 so A&D cannot be correct. If B is correct then the probability would be 0.6, none of the above probabilities are equal to 0.6 so B cannot be correct. If C is correct than the probability would be 0.25, however P(0.25)=0.5 and 0.25 does not equal 0.5 so that cannot be correct.
   
Made in us
Fixture of Dakka






On a boat, Trying not to die.

corpsesarefun wrote:Paradox.

If there are three options, P(25%)=0.5 P(60%)=0.25 and P(50%)=0.25. If A&D are correct then the probability would be 0.5 hower P(0.5)=0.25 and obviously 0.5 does not equal 0.25 so A&D cannot be correct. If B is correct then the probability would be 0.6, none of the above probabilities are equal to 0.6 so B cannot be correct. If C is correct than the probability would be 0.25, however P(0.25)=0.5 and 0.25 does not equal 0.5 so that cannot be correct.
feth you and your fething logic!

Every Normal Man Must Be Tempted At Times To Spit On His Hands, Hoist That Black Flag, And Begin Slitting Throats. 
   
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Decrepit Dakkanaut




Swindon, Wiltshire, UK

That was terrible logic and awful maths form but I'm knackered.
   
Made in us
Mutated Chosen Chaos Marine







Maybe I just didn't think about this problem, but I got (D because, assuming there is one correct answer, there are four problems and 1/4=0.25 or 25%.
   
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Decrepit Dakkanaut




Swindon, Wiltshire, UK

D=B so it is impossible.
   
Made in us
Infiltrating Hawwa'





Through the looking glass

C) 50%

If it's random, then 2 are wrong and 2 are right. So 50% chance of selecting the right choice at random.

“Sometimes I can hear my bones straining under the weight of all the lives I'm not living.”

― Jonathan Safran Foer 
   
Made in au
The Dread Evil Lord Varlak





LoneLictor wrote:Maybe I just didn't think about this problem, but I got (D because, assuming there is one correct answer, there are four problems and 1/4=0.25 or 25%.


But A is also 25%.

At which point it works out like corpsesarefun said.

“We may observe that the government in a civilized country is much more expensive than in a barbarous one; and when we say that one government is more expensive than another, it is the same as if we said that that one country is farther advanced in improvement than another. To say that the government is expensive and the people not oppressed is to say that the people are rich.”

Adam Smith, who must have been some kind of leftie or something. 
   
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Pyromaniac Hellhound Pilot




Karthu'ul, the Heart of the Universe

Necroshea wrote:C) 50%

If it's random, then 2 are wrong and 2 are right. So 50% chance of selecting the right choice at random.


But the odds of guessing C are 1/4.

There's no real answer.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2011/11/01 03:44:26


There are some who walk until their legs fail them and they fall to the ground. I find that respectable.
Then there are those who drag themselves further. I find that admirable.  
   
Made in us
Lord Commander in a Plush Chair





In your base, ignoring your logic.

50%, its not math its logic. If two answers are the same then that means they are incorrect because how could A be incorrect and D be correct if they are the same answer, the answer is they can't be.

That means my choices are actually B and C with C being the real answer.

Also there is no 1/4 available, if a person guessed then there are only three possible different answers which means they have a 33.3333% chance of getting an answer.
   
Made in us
Nasty Nob on Warbike with Klaw





Buzzard's Knob

Whatever... my math comprehension reached its peak in the 9th grade. When they started talking about dividing negative fractions, I checked out. Hilariously enough, In my senior year, I got a D in Algebra just be picking answers at random. I really don't care what the answer to this question is, I just answered whatever came off of the top of my head.

WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGHHHHH!!!!!!!!!! 
   
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Pyromaniac Hellhound Pilot




Karthu'ul, the Heart of the Universe

halonachos wrote:50%, its not math its logic. If two answers are the same then that means they are incorrect because how could A be incorrect and D be correct if they are the same answer, the answer is they can't be.

That means my choices are actually B and C with C being the real answer.


You don't get to choose your answer, though.

Random.

There are some who walk until their legs fail them and they fall to the ground. I find that respectable.
Then there are those who drag themselves further. I find that admirable.  
   
Made in au
The Dread Evil Lord Varlak





halonachos wrote:50%, its not math its logic. If two answers are the same then that means they are incorrect because how could A be incorrect and D be correct if they are the same answer, the answer is they can't be.


No, if I had a question that asked who was the German Chancellor who chamioned the formation of Germany, and the options were

a) Bismarck
b) Mr Whippy
c) Jesus
d) Bismarck

Then Bismarck would be the correct answer, even though it's there twice. The teacher will have to mark the exam to give people a point for picking either a) or d)

That means my choices are actually B and C with C being the real answer.


No, your choices are still all four. Even if one answer was '143% plus also an apple' it would still be an option, even though it was obviously wrong, because you're choosing randomly from the answers given.

Also there is no 1/4 available, if a person guessed then there are only three possible different answers which means they have a 33.3333% chance of getting an answer.


There are three actual options, but the presence of an answer being there twice means it has twice the probability of being picked. That means we have one answer with a 50% chance of being picked, and two answers answers each with a 50% chance of being picked.

At which point you can look through the options. If the answer were 25%, and a) and d) were correct, then you'd have a 50% of picking it, and giving the answer can't be 50% and 25%, that's incorrect. The other two options are each 25%, but if they were correct then it'd be either 60% or 50%, and once again it can't be both 25% and 50%, or 25% and 60%, so they're not right either.

Therefore the question is broken.

“We may observe that the government in a civilized country is much more expensive than in a barbarous one; and when we say that one government is more expensive than another, it is the same as if we said that that one country is farther advanced in improvement than another. To say that the government is expensive and the people not oppressed is to say that the people are rich.”

Adam Smith, who must have been some kind of leftie or something. 
   
Made in au
Lady of the Lake






corpsesarefun wrote:Paradox.

If there are three options, P(25%)=0.5 P(60%)=0.25 and P(50%)=0.25. If A&D are correct then the probability would be 0.5 hower P(0.5)=0.25 and obviously 0.5 does not equal 0.25 so A&D cannot be correct. If B is correct then the probability would be 0.6, none of the above probabilities are equal to 0.6 so B cannot be correct. If C is correct than the probability would be 0.25, however P(0.25)=0.5 and 0.25 does not equal 0.5 so that cannot be correct.


A or D, the other being the incorrect letter.
The incorrect one being the one not chosen.



Like this though it probably makes more sense than trying to find X that way.

   
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Sitting in yo' bath tub, poopin out shoggoths

25%

EDIT: I read the question wrong, 50%, 2 are wrong 2 are right...

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2011/11/01 07:13:44


750 points

1000 Points
 
   
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The Dread Evil Lord Varlak





bombboy1252 wrote:25%

EDIT: I read the question wrong, 50%, 2 are wrong 2 are right...


But if the answer is 50%, you only have a 25% chance of picking that option, so that can't be right.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2011/11/01 08:00:19


“We may observe that the government in a civilized country is much more expensive than in a barbarous one; and when we say that one government is more expensive than another, it is the same as if we said that that one country is farther advanced in improvement than another. To say that the government is expensive and the people not oppressed is to say that the people are rich.”

Adam Smith, who must have been some kind of leftie or something. 
   
Made in nl
Esteemed Veteran Space Marine





the Netherlands

corpsesarefun wrote:Paradox.

If there are three options, P(25%)=0.5 P(60%)=0.25 and P(50%)=0.25. If A&D are correct then the probability would be 0.5 hower P(0.5)=0.25 and obviously 0.5 does not equal 0.25 so A&D cannot be correct. If B is correct then the probability would be 0.6, none of the above probabilities are equal to 0.6 so B cannot be correct. If C is correct than the probability would be 0.25, however P(0.25)=0.5 and 0.25 does not equal 0.5 so that cannot be correct.


sebster wrote:
No, if I had a question that asked who was the German Chancellor who chamioned the formation of Germany, and the options were

a) Bismarck
b) Mr Whippy
c) Jesus
d) Bismarck

Then Bismarck would be the correct answer, even though it's there twice. The teacher will have to mark the exam to give people a point for picking either a) or d)

Also there is no 1/4 available, if a person guessed then there are only three possible different answers which means they have a 33.3333% chance of getting an answer.


There are three actual options, but the presence of an answer being there twice means it has twice the probability of being picked. That means we have one answer with a 50% chance of being picked, and two answers answers each with a 50% chance of being picked.

At which point you can look through the options. If the answer were 25%, and a) and d) were correct, then you'd have a 50% of picking it, and giving the answer can't be 50% and 25%, that's incorrect. The other two options are each 25%, but if they were correct then it'd be either 60% or 50%, and once again it can't be both 25% and 50%, or 25% and 60%, so they're not right either.

Therefore the question is broken.


you 2 should get a honorable mention on the front page for this
@ sebster,
the only problem with your answer is that your trying to give the correct answer, however you should see how much chance you have to pick the correct answer, now which answer is correct

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2011/11/01 09:18:16


   
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Decrepit Dakkanaut




Swindon, Wiltshire, UK

I take double maths at college so I end up doing things like this most of time I'm awake
   
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Lord Commander in a Plush Chair





Beijing

You might enjoy this.


If you know what the 'trick' is don't spoil for others.

   
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Decrepit Dakkanaut




Swindon, Wiltshire, UK

To clarify, all of the coloured shapes have remained constant size and area (the red triangle has simply moved rather than expanded at all, the same applies to the other two moved shapes) as the grid lines are a little iffy in that diagram so it is hard to tell.
   
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Lord Commander in a Plush Chair





Beijing

There's nothing wrong with the gridlines and all the shapes remain the same size, they just move around.
   
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Decrepit Dakkanaut




Swindon, Wiltshire, UK

Yeah that's what my morning addled brain is trying to say.
   
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Howard A Treesong wrote:You might enjoy this.


If you know what the 'trick' is don't spoil for others.


I don't remember exactly what the 'trick' is, although I have seen this before.

Spoiler:
basically, the blue triangle has legs 2 & 5 while the red triangle has legs 3 & 8. These triangles aren't scales of one another (the larger would be 3 & 7.5 if they had the same angles). Therefore, while the overall shape appears to be a triangle with legs 5 & 13, it's not. The 'hypotenuse' of the first shape is is "bent in." (the slope of the first triangle is less than the slope of the second).

When you move to the bottom figure, rather than being bent in, the line is "bent out." (the slope of the first triangle is greater than the slope of the second).

This would be easier to show with drawings.

text removed by Moderation team. 
   
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Wollongong, Australia

A or D. 25%

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2011/11/01 13:57:01


 
   
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USA

rockerbikie wrote:A or D. 25%
But then technically that'd e fifty percent.

The people in the past who convinced themselves to do unspeakable things were no less human than you or I. They made their decisions; the only thing that prevents history from repeating itself is making different ones.
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My blog
 
   
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Wollongong, Australia

Melissia wrote:
rockerbikie wrote:A or D. 25%
But then technically that'd e fifty percent.
That's true. I guess Maths=Logic in a way.

 
   
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Fixture of Dakka





Chicago

It's a troll question.

It's the same as the classic: "This statement is false."

6000pts

DS:80S++G++M-B-I+Pw40k98-D++A++/areWD-R+T(D)DM+

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Decrepit Dakkanaut




Swindon, Wiltshire, UK

I got a kick out of it to be honest

In fact I promptly forwarded it to my other maths geek friends to see if I could confuse them.
   
 
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