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This is the most interesting bit: "Select a random number between 0 and 1. Now select another and add it to the first. Keep doing this, piling on random numbers
by cjg 16y ago
This is the most interesting bit: "Select a random number between 0 and 1. Now select another and add it to the first. Keep doing this, piling on random numbers. How many random numbers, on average, do you need to make the total greater than 1? The answer is e."
The proof appears right at the bottom.
- RBerenguel 16y agoAnd the proof is simpler than it would appear from reading the enunciate (at least that's what I think, of course!)
- pjscott 16y agoThat proof is amazingly clever.
- technoguyrob 16y agoCould be an easy Putnam problem.
- Confusion 16y agoI think you are underestimating the complexity of coming up with an analogy that works. For instance, solving the same problem for 'How many numbers are needed to exceed 2' is already much harder and I don't think there exists a similar 'easy' proof.
- RBerenguel 16y agoIt was indeed a Putnam problem. Good guess ;)