BBy Bot
Jun 09'24
Exercise
[math]
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Smith is in jail and has 3 dollars; he can get out on bail if he has 8 dollars. A guard agrees to make a series of bets with him. If Smith bets [math]A[/math] dollars, he wins [math]A[/math] dollars with probability .4 and loses [math]A[/math] dollars with probability .6. Find the probability that he wins 8 dollars before losing all of his money if
- he bets 1 dollar each time (timid strategy).
- he bets, each time, as much as possible but not more than necessary to bring his fortune up to 8 dollars (bold strategy).
- Which strategy gives Smith the better chance of getting out of jail?