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Old 12-24-2002, 04:20 PM
BruceZ BruceZ is offline
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Join Date: Sep 2002
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Default Re: Hornblower\'s Duel

Bayes' theorem problem. Hornblower lives 60% of the time, and his opponent draws the shot 50% of the time. The probability Hornblower drew the shot given that he lived is 50%/60% = 5/6, so the probability his opponent drew the shot is 1/6.

Here's another way.
P(opponent has shot GIVEN hornblower lives) = P(opponent has shot AND hornblower lives)/P(hornblower lives) = (.5)(.2)/.6 = 1/6.
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