Brent Meeker and Jesse Mazer and others wrote:
Well, lots and lots of complex mathematical argument on the two envelope
problem...
But no-one has yet pointed out a flaw in my rather simplistic analysis:
(1) One envelope contains x currency units, so the other contains 2x
currency units;
(2) If you stop at the first envelope you choose, expected gain is: 0.5*x +
0.5*2x = 1.5x;
(3) If you open the first envelope then switch to the second, your expected
gain is: 0.5*2x + 0.5*x = 1.5x - as above, just in a different order,
obviously;
(4) If, in a variation, the millionaire flips a coin to give you double or
half the amount in the first envelope if you switch envelopes, expected gain
is: 0.25*2x + 0.25*0.5x + 0.25*x + 0.25*4x = 1.875x.
In the latter situation you are obviously better off switching, but it is a
mistake to assume that (4) applies in the original problem, (3) - hence, no
paradox.
Is the above wrong, or is it just so obvious that it isn't worth discussing?
(I'm willing to accept either answer).
Stathis Papaioannou
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Received on Thu Oct 14 2004 - 03:38:09 PDT