Prisoner's Dilemma and Cooperation Explained
Formulated by Merrill Flood and Melvin Dresher in 1950, the Prisoner's Dilemma models two suspects kept in separate rooms. If both stay silent, they get light sentences. However, the incentive to betray the other to go free drives both to confess, resulting in a worse outcome for both.
The art of river crossings and grids
Ancient riddles and philosophical paradoxes
Lateral thinking and creative loopholes
Game theory and probability traps
schopenhauer Game Theory Probability Traps
If you switch your door, your odds will jump up to two-thirds.
schopenhauer This mathematical phenomenon shows that shared birthdays are far more common in small groups than we instinctively believe.
Monty Hall: When Marilyn vos Savant published the correct solution to the Monty Hall problem in 1990, thousands of PhD mathematicians wrote in arguing she was wrong.
schopenhauer This core game theory scenario shows why two rational individuals might not cooperate, even if it is in their best interest.
A probability puzzle in which a contestant chooses one of three doors, attempting to select the one hiding a prize. Marilyn vos Savant sparked intense debate in 1990 by publishing the correct, counterintuitive solution in Parade magazine.
In Newcomb's paradox, a highly accurate predictor offers you two boxes. What is the term for someone who chooses to take only Box B?
In the 'St. Petersburg paradox,' a casino game offers an infinite expected payoff, yet people are only willing to pay a small entry fee. Why?
How many people must be in a room to reach a 50% probability that at least two share the exact same birthday?
Which game theory scenario involves two players who must decide whether to cooperate or defect, leading to a suboptimal outcome if both defect?
In the Sleeping Beauty problem, what are the two competing philosophical schools of thought regarding her probability estimate?
In the Monty Hall problem, what is the mathematical probability of winning the car if you choose to switch doors?
Who formulated the mathematical concept of 'equilibrium' in game theory, famously illustrated by the Prisoner's Dilemma?
What is the name of the probability trap where people believe past independent events affect the likelihood of future random outcomes?