this post was submitted on 30 Nov 2024
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No using search engines or calculator, just imagine you were given these choices in jail and got 30 seconds to choose.

Would you rather have the executioner (Please excuse my use of firearm terminology, I'm not an expert in guns):

[A] Load 1 chamber of 6 and spin before pull the trigger 6 times (spinning the chamber after each pull)

or

[B] Load 2 chamber of 6 and spin before pull the trigger 3 times (spinning the chamber after each pull)

or

[C] Load 4 chamber of 6 and spin before pull the trigger once

If you survive, you are pardoned of all crimes you've committed in the past and get to leave prison (alive, obviously), no compensation tho. (Attempts to end your own life is illegal)

Which of these options would you pick?

No search engine, no calculator pls. I'm bored and wanna make this fun. πŸ˜‰

If you are confused, ask in comments.

Edit: Reworded it to clarify that the chamber is spinned before the first trigger is pulled.

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[–] [email protected] 19 points 4 months ago (1 children)

I'd go with C. Here are my MENTAL maths for odds of survival:

  • A: (5/6)^6
  • B: (4/6)^3 = (2/3)^3 = 8/27
  • C: 2/6 = 1/3 = 9/27

C is clearly better than B. I have no clue how much A is, but it follows the same basic reasoning as B, so it's probably worse than C too.

[–] [email protected] 19 points 4 months ago (1 children)

C. Just get it over with. Can't wait for the spin and reshoot.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

Spoiler:

Tap for spoiler0/6 chance to live <β€” actually I’m probably wrong about this one, I missed the β€œspin after each pull”… should be (5/6)^6 chance to live (~34%)

2/3 * 2/3 * 2/3 chance to live = 8/27 chance to live (~30%)

2/6 chance to live (~33%)

[–] [email protected] 13 points 4 months ago

Attempts to end your own life is illegal

What are they gonna do? Kill me?

Also, I'm gonna say B before doing the math.

I've done the math, I think.


Okay, the probability of living is the amount of unloaded chambers over the amount of chambers in total to the power of the amount of shots taken. Given that, we can conclude that...

  • Option A ((5/6)^6) gives you a 33.49% chance of survival,
  • Option B ((4/6)^3) gives you a 29.63% chance of survival, and
  • Option C ((2/6)^1) gives you a 33.33% chance of survival

So, turns out, I've chosen the worst odds. Whoops. However, they're so close that it honestly doesn't matter that much.

Also, sorry to those whose clients don't do spoilers. I'm with you on that one, I use Eternity.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 4 months ago (1 children)

load 4 chambers, attempt to take a guard or 4 with me

[–] [email protected] 6 points 4 months ago

Off the top of my head, I think the best chances of survival are: C, A, B. I'm not sure about A vs. C, because A's total odds are hard to calculate in my head, while C is exactly 1/3 (33.33%).

The reason A is better than B is that a 1/6 chance of dying, twice, is better than a 2/6 chance of dying, once. They might seem at first like the same, but consider that one of those 36 chances in the A case is where you get shot twice in a row. That's no worse than a regular death. So it comes out to only 11/36 of dying in the first two rounds of A, but 12/36 of dying in the first one round of B.

spoilerUsing a calculator. it turns out A is actually 0.16% better than C. They're really about the same.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 4 months ago

I would choose option C.

4/6 loaded and 1 pull.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 4 months ago

Segue, what makes you more comfortable for B?

This πŸŒ•πŸŒ•πŸŒ‘πŸŒ‘πŸŒ‘πŸŒ‘
Or
That πŸŒ•πŸŒ‘πŸŒ‘πŸŒ•πŸŒ‘πŸŒ‘

My first read I missed that the you were spinning the chamber between shots. I was thinking people pick B assuming its the first one and then get fucked the second way

Anyway, I think I'd go with C. If it's going to happen, it's going to happen, and I didn't get to death row by not believing in instant gratification

[–] [email protected] 5 points 4 months ago

Deciding within 30 seconds, C. B is clearly worse and math seems to imply similar odds for A but it takes too long to calculate.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 4 months ago
[–] [email protected] 3 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

A. It's either A or B, something about the fractions, but it'll take me more than 30 seconds to reason it out.

Edit: rip, nevermind, they're all about equal

[–] [email protected] 3 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

After quick math, I'll choose B. I believe it has 50% success rate.

Edit: oh no, "spinning after each shot"

[–] [email protected] 3 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (1 children)

ATM, I probably shouldn't be left with a gun and a choice. I don't care how many you load or if you spin. I would ask them if they would like to have a real conversation? They seem like an interesting type of person to get talking openly.

Seems like 1:6 Γ— 6 is the most survivable as I intuit the problem. The previous shots have no bearing on the statistics of the next.

E: So yeah, the weight of the bullets spinning out of balance likely has more than a 1% bearing on the outcome. Statistics irrelevant IMO... but that is what a loser would say.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 4 months ago (5 children)

The previous shots do matter. Because for you to even reach the 6:th shot, all previous attempts have to be in your favor.

It's (5/6) you'll live each pull. But to reach pull #2 you'll have to survive the first. To reach pull #3 you have to survive the first 2.

You're looking at events that have to take place is a specific order. You have to multiply each pull to work out the probability of this event following one of those orders. It will come out to (5/6)^6.

(5/6) is the probability you survive. And ^6 because you have to survive it 6 times.

You're looking at ~33% of getting empty slots 6 times in a row.

Previous attempts always have a bearing on statistics if things need to happen in a certain order.

load more comments (5 replies)
[–] [email protected] 3 points 4 months ago (2 children)

I'm not taking their offer, better certain death than an unknown.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 4 months ago

That is a WILD take, man. If you’re serious, you’re a new kind of person I’ve never met before.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 months ago

This might count as "unusual" punishment, but imo it's far less cruel than what's usually on the table on death row

[–] [email protected] 3 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

Guessed A then looked in the comments and that looked to be the best option so now I'm gonna roll some dice to see if I got released or not

Edit: aw beans

[–] [email protected] 3 points 4 months ago (1 children)

A

After 30 seconds: still A

[–] [email protected] 2 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (2 children)

I would choose not to take part in this stupid game.

But regarding your math, the option C has the highest chance of surviving

A: (5 * 5 * 5 * 5 * 5 * 5) / (6 * 6 * 6 * 6 * 6 * 6) = terribly low

B: (2 * 2 * 2) / (3 * 3 * 3) = something like 0.3

C: 1/3 = 0.33

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] [email protected] 2 points 4 months ago

I'll pick B

[–] [email protected] 2 points 4 months ago

Can I choose where I pull the trigger?
Cause I can make it the best or the worst funny ever.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (1 children)

Does she spin before the first shot? Otherwise the bullet would always be in position to be fired. I assume so. Then option C, simply by expected value.

With 30 seconds being up, I must admit I can't calculate (5/6)^6 or (2/3)^3 fast enough to make a better comparison between the options.

Also, to be politically correct, what are my executioners pronouns? I just assumed she now, which may of course be offensive and I'm sorry for that.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 4 months ago

C. I'm fine with either outcome. I'll be free.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 months ago
[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 months ago (5 children)

Because the barrel is spun each time it’s a simple percentage assuming the weight of the bullets don’t affect the spin. A is 16.2% for each trigger pull. B is 33.3% chance each trigger pull. C is 66.7%. The chances don’t stack because the barrel is spun again before each shot.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 4 months ago (1 children)

By this logic, if you roll a die 1000 times, you have only a 1/6 chance to get at teast one 6.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 months ago

That's not how statistics work.

Leta say you're on your 6:th shot on option A.

For you to even get there, it requires all previous attempts to be in your favor. You're looking at events that all have to happen in a favorable order. And that is as follows

5/6 chance you live after the first time. (5/6)^2 chance you live after the second. (Because you have to survive the first) (5/6)^3 chance you live after the third. (Because you have to survive the first AND the second) .... and so on until (5/6)^6 ~ 33%

Think about flipping a coin. Do you really think getting 6 heads in a row is 50/50? The coin is "reset" between each flip. But it's not a 50/50 chance to get 6 heads in a row. If you don't believe me. Try it and see. According to statistics. It will take you 64 attempts to get 6 heads in a row.

load more comments (3 replies)
[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Isn't A by far the best odds? If he spins after each shot doesn't it kinda reset to really being 5/6 chance you're ok minus the one fired last, so 4/6.