[extropy-chat] three coins in a fountain

[Acy James Stapp]

1/6, since there is only one side of the six sides that has a tail
opposite.

Coin  Side  
HH    H*
HH    H*
HT    H*
HT    T
TT    T
TT    T

Clearly the coin you picked is one of the two starred coins. Out of the
three
Options provided, only one has a tail opposite.

Acy

-----Original Message-----
From: extropy-chat-bounces at lists.extropy.org
[mailto:extropy-chat-bounces at lists.extropy.org] On Behalf Of spike
Sent: Thursday, October 20, 2005 2:06 PM
To: 'ExI chat list'
Subject: [extropy-chat] three coins in a fountain


You have a bag containing three coins: a double headed,
a double tailed and an ordinary coin.  You reach into
the bag without looking, take one out and place it on
the table.  You see a head facing up.

What is the probability that the other side is a tail?

At first you think: simple, the probability that you chose
the ordinary coin is one of three, so its simply 1/3.  But 
on the other hand, when you looked at the coin, you learned 
that you did not choose the double tail; that one you know 
is still in the bag.  So you chose either the double head 
or the ordinary coin, equal probability of each, so its 
fifty-fifty even bet that the other side is a tail.

But you already know that the probability of picking the ordinary coin
is 1/3, and looking at the coin did not magically change that, right?
Perhaps you came up with a different answer than either 1/3 or 1/2.

Think on this puzzle, post your answer and your reasoning,
then stand by for part 2, which is really the punchline.

spike




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