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I think the difference is that you're reading it as practical word problem, when the intent is to present a math problem. I first heard about this problem in a
by chaz 13y ago
I think the difference is that you're reading it as practical word problem, when the intent is to present a math problem.
I first heard about this problem in a politically incorrect variation: a tribe chief is given the opportunity to choose a wife from a pool of n women, presented in a random order, one at a time. He can choose any woman, but can't choose a woman who he has already passed up. What's the strategy for the chief to choose the most beautiful wife?
- aaronsnoswell 13y agoHow is that variation politically incorrect? Genuine question here. If anything, to me it seems culturally correct.
- roel_v 13y agoDo you really need to ask? Are you seriously incapable of seeing that some people might be offended (stupidly, if you ask me, but that doesn't make them any less so) by a story where a woman is apparently picked like cattle by a feudal lord?
- greenpresident 13y agoI suspect he meant to say that the analogy accurately depicts something that really happens. An assessment that, incidentally, is pretty politically incorrect in itself.
- dannypgh 13y agoAh, yes, what an accurate depiction of the "tribe." Seriously, if you want to go the accurate route, probably best to pick a specific people where that's what actually happens. Not having done that, the problem as stated advances stereotypes of peoples that are referred to as "tribes" as being primitive and misogynistic. Perhaps use "nation" instead, or better yet, formulate the problem differently.
- TeMPOraL 13y agoThe word "correct" in "politically correct" means "as we want it to be", not "as it really is".
- aleksi 13y agoInteresting. In Russia this problem is known as choosy bride problem, where bride is looking for the best groom.
- FLUX-YOU 13y agoI hope Putin's not planning to apply this problem to decide which country to invade.
- Sammi 13y agoIsn't that basically how dating works? It's hard to go back to an ex...