"Pitch and Toss" was or is an Australian game of which the solution is relevant to some nuclear physics calculations, in a somewhat more complicated manner. It works out as an elementary result in random walk theory.
Two Aussies in the outback wish to play a gambling game to relieve their boredom. Player A has "a" Australian Dollar coins, while player B has "b" coins of the same denomination. In each step of the game a 50:50 coin flip decides which player wins that particular round. If player A wins then player B gives player A one of his coins, and if player B wins then player A gives player B one of his coins. The game terminates when one of the players becomes bankrupt. What is the probability that A wins the match?
Apologies to Rookie and/or the moderators if this one has been published before.
Question
Guest
"Pitch and Toss" was or is an Australian game of which the solution is relevant to some nuclear physics calculations, in a somewhat more complicated manner. It works out as an elementary result in random walk theory.
Two Aussies in the outback wish to play a gambling game to relieve their boredom. Player A has "a" Australian Dollar coins, while player B has "b" coins of the same denomination. In each step of the game a 50:50 coin flip decides which player wins that particular round. If player A wins then player B gives player A one of his coins, and if player B wins then player A gives player B one of his coins. The game terminates when one of the players becomes bankrupt. What is the probability that A wins the match?
Apologies to Rookie and/or the moderators if this one has been published before.
Edited by jerbilLink to comment
Share on other sites
20 answers to this question
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.