Comments on: How to fix a broken bet – a puzzle http://mindyourdecisions.com/blog/2010/03/22/how-to-fix-a-broken-bet-a-puzzle/ Articles on game theory and personal finance Tue, 22 May 2012 15:59:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: The weirdest soccer match and game theory - Mind Your Decisions http://mindyourdecisions.com/blog/2010/03/22/how-to-fix-a-broken-bet-a-puzzle/comment-page-1/#comment-6691 The weirdest soccer match and game theory - Mind Your Decisions Wed, 16 Jun 2010 05:11:45 +0000 http://mindyourdecisions.com/blog/?p=2165#comment-6691 [...] Barbados managed to advance but it was eliminated in the next round. No penalties were given to either team since they were both trying to win (albeit in an odd way akin to the puzzle about fixing a broken bet). [...] [...] Barbados managed to advance but it was eliminated in the next round. No penalties were given to either team since they were both trying to win (albeit in an odd way akin to the puzzle about fixing a broken bet). [...]

]]> By: JD http://mindyourdecisions.com/blog/2010/03/22/how-to-fix-a-broken-bet-a-puzzle/comment-page-1/#comment-6442 JD Mon, 29 Mar 2010 18:04:19 +0000 http://mindyourdecisions.com/blog/?p=2165#comment-6442 Eh, puzzles like this are mildly amusing, but kind of cheap in my opinion. If the bet were for a standard race in which the buggy that crosses the finish line first wins, would one of the competitors be allowed to jump into the opponent's buggy and sabotage it? Even if the rules don't explicitly forbid that, such an act would be against the spirit of the bet and implicitly illegal. I don't see how the bet in this puzzle is any different. The rules don't specifically forbid taking control of the other person's buggy, but that would be reasonably implied in any race. Maybe I am nit picking, but since the correct answer relies on a nitty technicality, I think it's only fair. Eh, puzzles like this are mildly amusing, but kind of cheap in my opinion.

If the bet were for a standard race in which the buggy that crosses the finish line first wins, would one of the competitors be allowed to jump into the opponent’s buggy and sabotage it? Even if the rules don’t explicitly forbid that, such an act would be against the spirit of the bet and implicitly illegal.

I don’t see how the bet in this puzzle is any different. The rules don’t specifically forbid taking control of the other person’s buggy, but that would be reasonably implied in any race. Maybe I am nit picking, but since the correct answer relies on a nitty technicality, I think it’s only fair.

]]> By: Presh Talwalkar http://mindyourdecisions.com/blog/2010/03/22/how-to-fix-a-broken-bet-a-puzzle/comment-page-1/#comment-6432 Presh Talwalkar Tue, 23 Mar 2010 17:50:57 +0000 http://mindyourdecisions.com/blog/?p=2165#comment-6432 Here's my post about that <a href="http://mindyourdecisions.com/blog/2008/03/10/game-theory-tuesdays-the-problem-from-a-beautiful-mind-buying-new-or-used/" rel="nofollow">scene from A Beautiful Mind</a>. (Ironically Nash's solution is not a correct equilibrium) Here’s my post about that scene from A Beautiful Mind. (Ironically Nash’s solution is not a correct equilibrium)

]]> By: Scott http://mindyourdecisions.com/blog/2010/03/22/how-to-fix-a-broken-bet-a-puzzle/comment-page-1/#comment-6431 Scott Tue, 23 Mar 2010 13:00:44 +0000 http://mindyourdecisions.com/blog/?p=2165#comment-6431 It's interesting to see how much lateral thinking plays in game theory. As a coincidence, "A Beautiful Mind" was on last night and this type of lateral thinking solution reminded me of the bar scene where Nash formulates a solution on how they can each get a girl by ignoring the blonde and going for her friends. It’s interesting to see how much lateral thinking plays in game theory.

As a coincidence, “A Beautiful Mind” was on last night and this type of lateral thinking solution reminded me of the bar scene where Nash formulates a solution on how they can each get a girl by ignoring the blonde and going for her friends.

]]> By: Presh Talwalkar http://mindyourdecisions.com/blog/2010/03/22/how-to-fix-a-broken-bet-a-puzzle/comment-page-1/#comment-6430 Presh Talwalkar Tue, 23 Mar 2010 05:01:56 +0000 http://mindyourdecisions.com/blog/?p=2165#comment-6430 The trick is seeing the loser is the first *buggy to cross the finish line. The farmer suggested that each rider get into the opponent's buggy. The switch meant each rider was effectively racing to make the other person lose, just like in a normal race. The trick is seeing the loser is the first *buggy to cross the finish line. The farmer suggested that each rider get into the opponent’s buggy. The switch meant each rider was effectively racing to make the other person lose, just like in a normal race.

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