Problem H-9

Due is DSC 203 by 12 Noon, Friday March 15, 2002

Proposed by Dora Matache

A contestant on a quiz show is presented with two questions, questions 1 and 2, which he is to attempt to answer in some order chosen by him. If he decides to try question i first, then he will be allowed to go on to the question j, $j \neq i$, only if his answer to i is correct. If his initial answer is incorrect, he is not allowed to answer the other question. The contestant is to receive V_i dollars if he answers question i correctly, i = 1, 2. Thus, for instance, he will receive V₁+V₂ dollars if both questions are correctly answered. If the probability that he knows the answer to question i is P_i, i =1, 2, which question should he attempt first so as to maximize his expected winnings? (Assume that knowing the answer to one question is independent of knowing the answer to the other question)

Solutions, questions and/or comments should be directed to Judy Downey or Griff Elder

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Last modified:   Sat Mar 9 16:40:15 CST 2002