Schrödinger's cat

Probability Level 3

If a cat is inside a box with three bombs, where any of the bombs(can be more than one) has a 50% chance of exploding within 10 minutes, then what is the probability of the cat being alive after 10 minutes?

0.125 Can not be defined 0.25 6.25E-2 0.5

Fd Móòn by Fd MÓòn , 29, Bangladesh

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1 solution

Rishabh Jain
Jan 31, 2016

Favorable cases: No bomb blasts (1) Unfavourable cases: All three blasts(1), Any of the two blasts(3) and Any one of them blasts (3) ...{Total 7}.
Hence the probability that our cat is saved is 1 7 + 1 \frac{1}{7+1} i.e 0.125 \Large 0.125

3 Helpful 0 Interesting 0 Brilliant 0 Confused

So what is the chance that it will be alive after 1 min? Still 0.125? I'm pretty sure this question doesn't make sense.

Isaac Buckley - 5 years, 4 months ago

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There is 100% chance that it will be alive after 1 minute because the bomb blasts only and only after 10 minutes. So don't worry our cat is safe even for further 8 minutes and 59 seconds. The next second decides it fate! ;)

aalekh patel - 5 years, 4 months ago

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So you're assuming may or may not blast means there is a 50% chance to blast? And you're also assuming it can only blast on the 10 minute mark?

Isaac Buckley - 5 years, 4 months ago

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@Isaac Buckley – One thing is certain that if the bomb blasts, it will blast atleast after 10 mins. Even if it doesn't blast, the cat would be safe for atleast 10 mins. So there is no need for any calculation of probability that the bomb blasts before 10 minutes. 0-10 mins : Nothing happens 10+ mins : 0.875 chances that the bomb blasts; 0.125 chances that the bomb doesn't blast.

aalekh patel - 5 years, 4 months ago

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@Aalekh Patel – Where are you getting 0.125 from? Are you assuming the chance that one bomb will blow up on the ten minute mark is 0.5? I don't see why anyone would make such an assumption.

Also the wording of the question has been edited, it previously said something along the lines of "the bomb can blow up anytime". Either way, this question is seriously flawed. I'm sure it will be modified soon.

Isaac Buckley - 5 years, 4 months ago

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