SAT question answer

[Ray_bob]

Is it sometimes better to take risks than to follow a more reasonable course of action?

[evank15]

If it has a higher EV than the reasonable course of action and you can withstand the variance, then yes.

Somehow I don't think that's the kind of answer the College Board is looking for. Back in the day when I wrote the SAT it was out of 1600 and we didn't have to write no essay.

[Jasper109]

[ QUOTE ]
we didn't have to write no essay.

[/ QUOTE ]

Good thing for you.

[random]

[ QUOTE ]
If it has a higher EV than the reasonable course of action

[/ QUOTE ]This does not make sense.

[JayTee]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
If it has a higher EV than the reasonable course of action

[/ QUOTE ]This does not make sense.

[/ QUOTE ]

Explain please

The second part of his statement makes the first make sense IMO.

[random]

The reasonable course of action, by definition, must have a higher EV.

The second part of the statement would be justification for not taking the reasonable course of action.

[New001]

I'm pretty sure the question intends "reasonable course of action" to be one that is opposite to a "risky course of action" regardless of the EV. Ask 100 people what's more reasonable, a risky chance with higher EV or a sure shot at less and I'd be surprised if a majority say the former.

[Shadowrun]

They dont really care how you answer so long as you provide good example and have good essay structure/grammer

[Magic_Man]

[ QUOTE ]
Is it sometimes better to take risks than to follow a more reasonable course of action?

[/ QUOTE ]

This question is poor. Here is a complete answer:

Given that the offered alternative is a more reasonable course of action, then the risk must be unjustified. If the risk were worth taking, there would be no more reasonable course of action. The end.

~MagicMan

[Jcrew]

Do whatever provides a greater aggregate utility over time.