Jersey #10 Posted October 28, 2011 Posted October 28, 2011 +1. My very first thought' date=' when I read this problem.[/quote'] the probability of getting any multiple choice answer is 100%/# of choices. In this case the clear answer is 25%. since A and D both are 25%, you have 2/4 odds that you will get the answer right if you randomly chose anything from A, B, C and D!...50% but then it also makes sense that since 25% is given twice, it's just one answer hence you really have only three unique choices. which reduces your odds by 1/3 giving you a 33% probability.
nikred Posted October 28, 2011 Posted October 28, 2011 Agree with Yods. But to humor the questioner the answer is "d" assuming there is only one correct answer. If there is only one correct answer then the probability you can choose the right one, randomly in one shot, is 1/4 = 25% Why is it "d" and not "a"?
Jersey #10 Posted October 28, 2011 Posted October 28, 2011 in fact, try giving me two options with the exact same answer on any test, I can promise you that the probability of me getting the answer right is 100%. This question is such a :fail:
The Outsider Posted October 28, 2011 Posted October 28, 2011 So, this seems to be based on the so called Russel's paradox in Math (after a bit of google time), which is stated as : Let R be the set of all sets that are not members of themselves. If R qualifies as a member of itself, it would contradict its own definition as a set containing all sets that are not members of themselves. On the other hand, if such a set is not a member of itself, it would qualify as a member of itself by the same definition.
Jersey #10 Posted October 28, 2011 Posted October 28, 2011 So' date=' this seems to be based on the so called Russel's paradox in Math (after a bit of google time), which is stated as :[/quote'] ok smartie pants ....how hard is it?
The Outsider Posted October 28, 2011 Posted October 28, 2011 Err.... I couldn't get it without googling so I googled. How hard is that?
CasualVisitor Posted October 28, 2011 Posted October 28, 2011 ]the probability of getting any multiple choice answer is 100%/# of choices. In this case the clear answer is 25%. since A and D both are 25%, you have 2/4 odds that you will get the answer right if you randomly chose anything from A, B, C and D!...50% but then it also makes sense that since 25% is given twice, it's just one answer hence you really have only three unique choices. which reduces your odds by 1/3 giving you a 33% probability. <-- This is stupid, 50% makes more sense Got it now (the assumption being one and only one of the choices is correct).
akshayxyz Posted October 29, 2011 Author Posted October 29, 2011 @transparent - if OP requested, pls don't google, does not mean one doesn't, or you didn't :). Just that OP requests to be honest with yourself, and tag around with spoilers whenever revealing some 'secret'. So, essentially all this is just to invoke discussions, and read/share stuff around OP. @Outsider - I wasn't aware of of this Russel paradox - thanks for searching and sharing. As for my reasoning, initially I thought I got it right - along the same lines as @transparent.. i.e. 50%... (25% can't be correct as there are two of it, that leaves with two definitely wrong, and two possibly right choices, hence probability is 50%.) But then, when I read other's explanations on the thread I found it - there were many equally convincing reasoning arriving at different answers. All the confusion is due to the paradoxical nature, self-referential and unclear wording of the question. e.g. Nowhere does it say that all the answer choices are equally likely. Readers start with assumption, but in maths problems it better be specified explicitly. Nowhere does it say that the numbers as answer choices reflect the probabilities, referred to in question. Nowhere does it say, that there can be only one correct answer. If this assumption is lifted, then both A & D can be correct. Nowhere does it say that the answer has to be from the 4 choices itself i.e. at least/exactly one of the choices has to be correct) or otherwise. Which is why, some people came up with answer - none of these, 0% etc...And it is not wrong to assume that actual question is the statement+ ABCD choices, and the answer has to be a separate number, and not a reference to the question (ABCD). Also, I found other versions of this question - where answer choices were a bit different - e.g. 25, 50, 50, 25... 25, 50, 0, 25... 25, 50, 75, 25....and most people arriving at 50 and 0 ( but this isn't a popularity contest :) ). So, finally I concluded that there is no correct answer, or in other words - more than one correct answers to this question - depending upon what you start assuming. If you think from programming perspective, since there is no specified terminating condition in the original question - this might be related to "halting problem"
akshayxyz Posted October 29, 2011 Author Posted October 29, 2011 in fact, try giving me two options with the exact same answer on any test, I can promise you that the probability of me getting the answer right is 100%. This question is such a :fail: still not 100%, until 3 of the 4 choices are same :) - this kind of explains why 50% is 'relatively' more correct with 2 same choices.
nikred Posted October 29, 2011 Posted October 29, 2011 So C is the obvious wrong answer and if I pick A, B or D I am still wrong due to the paradox. So basically to answer the question. What is the Chance I will be correct. The answer is 0. Whatever I pick I will be wrong. :woot:
Vijay.Sharma Posted October 29, 2011 Posted October 29, 2011 Nowhere does it say that all the answer choices are equally likely. Readers start with assumption, but in maths problems it better be specified explicitly. Nowhere does it say that the numbers as answer choices reflect the probabilities, referred to in question. Nowhere does it say, that there can be only one correct answer. If this assumption is lifted, then both A & D can be correct. Nowhere does it say that the answer has to be from the 4 choices itself i.e. at least/exactly one of the choices has to be correct) or otherwise. Which is why, some people came up with answer - none of these, 0% etc...And it is not wrong to assume that actual question is the statement+ ABCD choices, and the answer has to be a separate number, and not a reference to the question (ABCD).Classical "psychological inertia" that is. And it is exactly because of this (and to the credit of those who defeated the psychological inertia) that some of the responses made it clear that the question is not specific enough. So' date=' finally I concluded that there is no correct answer, or in other words - more than one correct answers to this question - depending upon what you start assuming.[/quote']Actually in this case you have changed the goal posts. Of course there is no "one" answer given the question (and hence the safest option is to note that instead of answering based on assumptions). However the moment you choose a particular perspective/assumption there can only be one correct answer (unless of course we are dealing with math of the quantum nature). So, again, the guys who defeated the psychological inertia got it more right than others. :winky:
urbestfriend Posted October 29, 2011 Posted October 29, 2011 it's weird but let me try: choose qn at random indicates 25% prob, since that is listed twice, doubles chances to 50%, since that is listed once, chance of that is 25%, since that is listed twice, doubles chances to 50%, ... this is right if we assume there is only one correct answer and three incorrect answers out of 4 chocies. Now let me prove that answer is none of the above. Here is a question where answer could be 1) One the listed choices 2) None of the above. Now if we assume (1) , there are 3 distinct answers, lets say X,Y,Z where in X is listed twice. So if X is right, probability of selecting right answer is 2/4= 50%. Since X=25% this is not the right answer. Similarly if Y or Z is right, probability of selection is 25% , since they are 50% and 60% respectively, this can't be right answer. So it has to be none of the above. :haha:
Jersey #10 Posted October 30, 2011 Posted October 30, 2011 @transparent - if OP requested, pls don't google, does not mean one doesn't, or you didn't :). Just that OP requests to be honest with yourself, and tag around with spoilers whenever revealing some 'secret'. So, essentially all this is just to invoke discussions, and read/share stuff around OP. I thought you would declare the right answer at the end but o well. I didn't google nothing :((
Stuge Posted April 22, 2012 Posted April 22, 2012 1/3 rd chance i.e 33% Deja vu .. I wonder IF is this question was asked earlier too :hmmm:
Roshanrocks Posted April 22, 2012 Posted April 22, 2012 1/3 rd chance i.e 33% Deja vu .. I wonder IF is this question was asked earlier too :hmmm: how? doesnt make any sense...? :hmmm:
Stuge Posted April 22, 2012 Posted April 22, 2012 how? doesnt make any sense...? :hmmm: there are two 25 % as option[rest are 60% 50% and 25 % ],but unfortunately their isn't a option for 33%.So,logicalyl the chance of choosing one option will remain 1/4 i. 25 % in any case . or the answer is Zero percent lol
Roshanrocks Posted April 22, 2012 Posted April 22, 2012 I think its a joke question or a question that doesnt have an answer :hmmm:
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