There are three boxes and one has a prize inside. You are told to choose a box. One of the other boxes is then opened, showing that it is empty. You are given the option to switch your choice to the other remaining box. Should you switch? Why?

Let's think of the three boxes as A, B and C.
Say we choose box A.
There is a 1 in 3 chance that our box has the prize inside, and so a 2 in 3 chance that it does not.
When a box is opened and shown to be empty, this DOES NOT leave us with a 50/50 chance of choosing the prize box when given the choice of switching.
We started with a 2 in 3 chance of having not chosen correctly, and so we have a 2 in 3 chance of the switch being a good choice, as it will take us to the box with the prize, since that is the only remaining box. This means that the best choice is to switch our box. 

DA
Answered by David A. Maths tutor

13230 Views

See similar Maths GCSE tutors

Related Maths GCSE answers

All answers ▸

Can you solve (2x-4)(x+1)=0?


Can two shelves of 0.72 meters long each store 50 30mm wide textbooks?


For the equation y=2x+7, what is the gradient and the y intercept?


What is the simplified expression of: 3a - a x 4a + 2a? And what rule do we use to carry out the simplification?


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2025 by IXL Learning