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. 

Answered by David A. Maths tutor

9911 Views

See similar Maths GCSE tutors

Related Maths GCSE answers

All answers ▸

Salika travels to school by train every day. The probability that her train will be late on any day is 0.3. If salika is late on 4 consecutive days she gets a detention. what is the probability she will get a detention during a week?


Work out (2^34) / (2^3)^10


Make y the subject of the following equation: 2x - y = 5


Jo wants to work out the solutions of x^2 + 3x – 5 = 0. Can the solution be worked out?


We're here to help

contact us iconContact usWhatsapp logoMessage us on Whatsapptelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

© MyTutorWeb Ltd 2013–2024

Terms & Conditions|Privacy Policy