Checking my work for mathematical expectation/probability problem

Linty Fresh

Junior Member
Joined
Sep 6, 2005
Messages
58
Mr. Jones would like to beat Mr. Brown in an upcoming golf tournament, but his chances are nil unless he takes $400 worth of lessons which will give him a 50/50 chance. If Mr. Jones can expect to break even if he takes the lessons and bets Mr Brown $1,000 against x dollars that he will win, find x.
___

OK, so for I set the amount for Mr. Jones winning at $600 ($1,000 minus the $400 he had to pay for lessons) and multiplied it by 1/2. I set x multiplied by 1/2 for Mr. Brown's victory. So . . .
AjPj=AbBb (as it's breaking even)
$600/2=x/2
x=$600

Was I right to set the two mathematical expectations for Jones and Brown equal to each other to represent the break-even point?

Thanks!
 
Top