Answer: Solve the following problem, asked of Marilyn Vos

Chapter , Problem 18

(choose chapter or problem)

Solve the following problem, asked of Marilyn Vos Savant in the Ask Marilyn column of Parade Magazine, August 9, 1992. Three of us couples are going to Lava Hot Springs next weekend. Were staying two nights, and weve rented two studios, because each holds a maximum of only four people. One couple will get their own studio on Friday, a different couple on Saturday, and one couple will be out of luck. Well draw straws to see which are the two lucky couples. I told my wife we should just draw once, and the loser would be the couple out of luck both nights. I figure well have a two-out-of-three (662 3%) chance of winning one of the nights to ourselves. But she contends that we should draw straws twicefirst on Friday and then, for the remaining two couples only, on Saturdayreasoning that a one-in-three (331 3%) chance for Friday and a one-in-two (50%) chance for Saturday will give us better odds. Which way should we go?