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-   -   Carnival dart game asking about expected number of darts thrown and expected winnings (https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/showthread.php?t=521941)

  • Nov 1, 2010, 07:25 AM
    probstudent1
    Carnival dart game asking about expected number of darts thrown and expected winnings
    A Carnival game offers $100 cash prize for anyone who can break a balloon by throwing a dart at it.

    It costs $5 to play, and you're willing to spend up to $20 trying to win.

    You estimate that you have about a 10% chance of hitting the balloon on any throw.

    What is the expected number of darts you'll throw?

    What is the expected winnings ?
  • Nov 1, 2010, 07:52 AM
    Unknown008

    You have to draw up the PDF (probability distribution function) of this.



    Can you fill in the table?

    The expected number of throws is given by:



    Now, from this you can find the probability that you win $100 and from there, the total cost and finally, the profit/winnings.

    Post what you get! :)
  • Nov 1, 2010, 11:44 AM
    probstudent1
    Hi, it it's a pdf and I'm limited to 4 games, 10% success rate, is it:

    (1x 0.10) + (2 x 0.10) + (3 x 0.10) + (4 x 0.10) ?

    for the # of throws ?

    I researched it somewhat and found a formula for geometric progression.

    If I may trouble you to explain the formula and process further, I'd be most grateful

    I also don't know how to calculate the winnings amount either, sorry.

    Thank you very much.
  • Nov 1, 2010, 12:03 PM
    Unknown008

    Sure.

    What is the probability that you win on first shot? 0.1

    What is the probability that you win on second shot? It means you lost on the first shot and won on the second, that is 0.9x0.1 = 0.09

    What is the probability that you win on the third shot?
    0.9x0.9x0.1 = 0.081

    4th shot?
    0.9^3 x 0.1 = 0.0729

    Can you complete it now?

    Then you find the expected throws using those new values.

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