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Activity Number:
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384
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Type:
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Contributed
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Date/Time:
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Wednesday, August 9, 2006 : 8:30 AM to 10:20 AM
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Sponsor:
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Section on Statistical Education
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| Abstract - #307479 |
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Title:
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Conditional Probability and "Who Wants To Be a Millionaire?"
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Author(s):
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Diane Evans*+
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Companies:
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Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
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Address:
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7248 Belfonte Lane, Terre Haute, IN, 47802,
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Keywords:
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conditional probability ; teaching activity
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Abstract:
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In statistics classes, I never pass up the opportunity to share with students the Monty Hall problem when we are discussing probability. Besides the lively interaction of students proposing and challenging various arguments for (or against) the answer, some students begin to reconsider problems where the Monty Hall "dilemma" may have been hidden beneath their surfaces. Since "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" continues to be a popular game show, one question that has been raised in class is "Does the contestant's probability of choosing the correct answer change after the elimination of two incorrect answers by the 50:50 lifeline option?" This problem is of interest to students because it involves a game show where probabilistic choices can help determine a contestant's winnings. This talk will look at calculating these conditional probabilities as a classroom activity.
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