A probability problem by Kaleil Salomon -Jacob
A new law is passed to keep the male population: Once a mother has given birth to a boy, she is forbidden from having any more children. However, if she gives birth to a girl, no restriction is imposed. How will this law affect the ratio of the male to female populations?
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The chance of having a boy or a girl will remain the same no matter how many children a woman has. For her first child, a mother has a 2 1 chance of having a boy and a 2 1 chance of having a girl. If she has a boy, she will not have a second child. If she has a girl and does have a second child, there is still a 2 1 chance of having a child of either gender. The pattern continues in this way. The ratio will alsays remain the same, even if it is different than 2 1 .