TheStormex
New member
- Joined
- Jul 18, 2013
- Messages
- 2
Hi I'm new. I play table tennis (ping pong) and I have a question about the probability of who goes first (make the first service).
For people who don't know or are unfamiliar with the idea of who goes first in a table tennis match, it is basically this:
One person put the ball in one the hands and hide under the table, the other person must guess the ball is in which hand. If the guess was correct, that person gets the ball; if incorrect, the person holding the ball serves first.
What I want to know is what is the more probable way that I get the ball first? I hide the ball and let my opponent choose or I pick my opponent's ball.
It might look simple that it is just 1/2 chance either way, but after visiting this site that gives facts that are shocking about math:
http://www.businessinsider.com/the-most-controversial-math-problems-2013-3
I start to doubt if it really is that simple (1/2 chance either way)
If anyone can help me, it will be great! Thanks!
For people who don't know or are unfamiliar with the idea of who goes first in a table tennis match, it is basically this:
One person put the ball in one the hands and hide under the table, the other person must guess the ball is in which hand. If the guess was correct, that person gets the ball; if incorrect, the person holding the ball serves first.
What I want to know is what is the more probable way that I get the ball first? I hide the ball and let my opponent choose or I pick my opponent's ball.
It might look simple that it is just 1/2 chance either way, but after visiting this site that gives facts that are shocking about math:
http://www.businessinsider.com/the-most-controversial-math-problems-2013-3
I start to doubt if it really is that simple (1/2 chance either way)
If anyone can help me, it will be great! Thanks!