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Simple problem or Tough problem ???

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by karthikpandian19 » Tue Jan 10, 2012 12:14 am
Jim and Renee will play one game of Rock, Paper, Scissors. In this game, each will select and show a hand sign for one of the three items. Rock beats Scissors, Scissors beat Paper, and Paper beats Rock. Assuming that both Jim and Renee have an equal chance of choosing any one of the hand signs, what is the probability that Jim will win?

5/6

2/3

1/2

5/12

1/3

Is this a simple problem or tough one? Sometimes i get carried away with the info tht the sum is tough
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by ronnie1985 » Tue Jan 10, 2012 12:25 am
Jim can win only if one of the following conditions are met:-
(1) Jim = Rock, Reeve = Scissor
(2) Jim = Scissor, Reeve = Paper
(3) Jim = Paper, reeve = Rock
The probability is 1/9+1/9+1/9 = 1/3
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by shankar.ashwin » Tue Jan 10, 2012 12:25 am
Dont get tempted writing various probability cases and complicate things.

3 results are possible : a win, a tie or losing.

P(A win) = Favorable/total = [spoiler]1/3[/spoiler]
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by pemdas » Mon Jan 23, 2012 9:42 pm
shankar.ashwin wrote:Dont get tempted writing various probability cases and complicate things.

3 results are possible : a win, a tie or losing.

P(A win) = Favorable/total = [spoiler]1/3[/spoiler]
you attempt to use binomial probability when P(success)=1/2 and luckily the odds are equal here P(win)=P(loose)=P(tie)
P(a win)=1/3
P(loose)=1/3
P(tie)=1/3

in all other cases like four or more hand signs when P(loose)>1/3 we get lost by using this method.
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by GMATGuruNY » Tue Jan 24, 2012 4:18 am
karthikpandian19 wrote:Jim and Renee will play one game of Rock, Paper, Scissors. In this game, each will select and show a hand sign for one of the three items. Rock beats Scissors, Scissors beat Paper, and Paper beats Rock. Assuming that both Jim and Renee have an equal chance of choosing any one of the hand signs, what is the probability that Jim will win?

5/6

2/3

1/2

5/12

1/3

Is this a simple problem or tough one? Sometimes i get carried away with the info tht the sum is tough
Since it is given that Jim and Renee have an equal chance of choosing any one of the hand signs, Renee is irrelevant here: she can select whatever sign she wants.
All that matters is what JIM selects RELATIVE TO RENEE.
He has 3 options: rock, paper, scissors.
Of these 3 options, ONLY ONE will result in a win for Jim.
Thus, P(Jim wins) = 1/3.

The correct answer is E.
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