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Old 11-22-2007, 01:29 AM
Limesparks Limesparks is offline
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Default Re: Math puzzle: Breaking the camel\'s back.

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With probability 1/2 , the camel's back will be broken first on the second straw . You may argue that the probability x2 <x1 is 1/2 and so the probability 1< x1+x2 <1+x1 is 1/2 .



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Let me clarify this part . x2 may either belong to the interval [0,x1] or [x1,x2] and either choice is equally likely . The probability x2 belongs to [0,x1] is 1/2 , or equivalently , the probability x2 belongs to [1,1+x1] is 1/2 .

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is there something i dont get about the notation here? how can x2 belong to the group [1,1+x1] if x2 in itself cant be >1?
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