Monty Hall Problem: Difference between revisions

A classic mathematical problem involving probabilites. The basic form is based on one of the games on the [[Game Show]] ''[[Let's Make a Deal (TV)|Let's Make a Deal]]''. The contestant is offered the choice of three doors. One has a car behind it, the two others hide [[Zonk|goats]]. The contestant chooses a door. The host (who knows what is behind each door) then opens one of the two other doors, revealing a goat. The contestant is then offered the choice to switch to the unrevealed door or stick with his original decision. The correct answer is to switch, as the probability is 66.7% that the car will be behind the other door. This is because there was a 2 in 3 chance that you chose a goat originally, and the host isn't providing any new information since he can ''always'' open a door with a goat. See [[The Other Wiki]] [http://en.[wikipedia.org/wiki/Monty_Hall_problem:Monty Hall problem|for an explanation of the math]]. Note that this number is true only if the host is ''required'' to reveal a goat and then offer the contestant the choice to switch. See ''[http://www.nytimes.com/1991/07/21/us/behind-monty-hall-s-doors-puzzle-debate-and-answer.html?pagewanted=all The New York Times]'' for what happens when the host is not.