this post was submitted on 27 Jul 2023
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Memes

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[–] [email protected] 30 points 1 year ago (8 children)

This is an old running meme in the hearthstone community. No matter the question, 50/50 it either happens or it doesn't

[–] [email protected] 14 points 1 year ago (7 children)

That's actually the best possible answer as it's a deeply stupid question. To many uncontrolled variables for a simple probability question.

Who are the other runners? If it's Usain Bolt vs. a 4th grader, the probability of the 4th grader winning approaches zero.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (4 children)

Assume there is a Michael, who on race day was mysteriously cloned 4 times in a perfect manner such that biologically and psychologically they are a perfect copy to the original. So there are now 4 Michaels plus one proto Michael.

Now they are put to a 100m race on a standard race track. Assume that the universe has normal randomness in wind and temperature variation. What is the probability that proto Michael wins the race?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Still not enough info. The race is legally a tie if the times are within a certain (I think a millisecond) interval, and with runners this similar in ability, the probability that nobody wins is non-zero.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

The randomness in the air molecules are enough to case minor variation in finish timings. I think I should add that the observer can see the finish line with an accuracy of one Planck length and that observation uses a mysterious method which avoids Heisenburgs uncertainty principle. That should make the question well-defined 😆

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