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Even the first solution linked to doesn't explain it. It only declares the result that the probabilities work out in a particular way. The second link contains
by srgseg 16y ago
Even the first solution linked to doesn't explain it. It only declares the result that the probabilities work out in a particular way.
The second link contains the math, and no way would a non-mathematician have been able to come up with that math.
- o_nate 16y agoHere's another link that explains it pretty well without using any fancy math: http://www.mast.queensu.ca/~peter/inprocess/prisoners.pdf http://www.mast.queensu.ca/~peter/inprocess/prisoners.pdf edit: I agree that this does involve some math, but I like that it all can be derived from basic principles of probability.
- srgseg 16y agoThat explanation is not consistent with the claim You don't need math skills to solve this, only problem solving skills. I'm just saying, it'd be nice if there is a warning when something that looks like a standard lateral thinking brain teaser is actually the topic of a paper submitted by a pair of professors of mathematics to the 2003 Conference on "Compexity".