How would you win this game: "Greed"?

***Ace Mercury*** · 12-24-2009, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by http://www.scientificblogging.com/hammock_physicist/game_theory_art_acting_rational

You are in a game show with nineteen other players. You don't know the other players, you can't see them, and you can't communicate with them. The game you are in is called 'Greed!', and is straightforward to explain. You are asked to write down a whole dollar amount in the range $1 - $1,000,000 on a piece of paper. You will be paid the amount you asked for if it is deemed to be 'non-greedy'. Whether your request is indeed 'non-greedy' will be decided once all twenty request have been received by the host of the show. Your requested amount will be labelled 'non-greedy' if no other player has asked for less, and at least one player has asked for more.

How do you play?

(via)

***CaptHayfever*** · 12-24-2009, 03:09 PM

The only guaranteed win is $1, since it's impossible for anyone to have gone lower and someone is certain to have gone higher. (Correspondingly, it's also impossible to get the full million because of that second condition.) But I would presume the question is asking for a maximum winnable amount, right?

And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!"

Redshirt · 12-24-2009, 03:12 PM

Are you asking how we would win it legally?

Luigiman7 · 12-24-2009, 03:17 PM

I'd say 10,000.

**Deku Trii** · 12-24-2009, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptHayfever

The only guaranteed win is $1, since it's impossible for anyone to have gone lower and someone is certain to have gone higher. (Correspondingly, it's also impossible to get the full million because of that second condition.) But I would presume the question is asking for a maximum winnable amount, right?

And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!"

Someone is likely to have gone higher, not certain. They could very well all leave with nothing.

Having followed most of my other lines of thought to dead ends, I'd probably write down something like $200 dollars. It's kind of a gut-generated number that tries to optimize my chance to win versus how much I would care if I won it.

***Ace Mercury*** · 12-24-2009, 10:54 PM

Yeah, at some point, it's not even worth it to write down a number.

If this was a live, nationally televised game show, I wouldn't put one dollar, otherwise I'll be forever known as the jerkass who ruined everything on that one stupid game show. Maybe I'd put down $999,999 and hope there was a good samaritan (which I'd totally appreciate), or put down something like $390,000.

heh · 12-25-2009, 10:11 PM

probably have to go with 2-10 k depending on how many people there are.

12-24-2009, 03:17 PM	#4
Luigiman7 ヽ(◔ ◡ ◔)ノ.･ﾟ*｡･+☆ Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: ~)´◡｀(~ Gender: Posts: 17,605 Thanks: 1,134 Thanked 1,012 Times in 713 Posts Blog Entries: 8	I'd say 10,000. __________________ ／人◕ ‿‿ ◕人＼ＷＯＮ’Ｔ　ＹＯＵ　ＢＥＣＯＭＥ　Ａ　ＭＡＧＩＣＡＬ　ＧＩＲＬ？

12-24-2009, 03:09 PM	#2
*CaptHayfever* Smash SuperMod Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: (n) - the place where I am Gender: Posts: 27,659 Thanks: 1,991 Thanked 2,486 Times in 1,513 Posts	The only guaranteed win is $1, since it's impossible for anyone to have gone lower and someone is certain to have gone higher. (Correspondingly, it's also impossible to get the full million because of that second condition.) But I would presume the question is asking for a maximum winnable amount, right? And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!"

12-24-2009, 03:12 PM	#3
Redshirt Wiggidy Wack Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: A place with things Gender: Posts: 16,698 Thanks: 703 Thanked 1,006 Times in 695 Posts Blog Entries: 50	Are you asking how we would win it legally?

12-24-2009, 10:54 PM	#6
*Ace Mercury* Marshmallow Knight ☆ Supermod Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Southern Ontario Gender: Posts: 23,274 Thanks: 568 Thanked 3,297 Times in 1,582 Posts Blog Entries: 1	Yeah, at some point, it's not even worth it to write down a number. If this was a live, nationally televised game show, I wouldn't put one dollar, otherwise I'll be forever known as the jerkass who ruined everything on that one stupid game show. Maybe I'd put down $999,999 and hope there was a good samaritan (which I'd totally appreciate), or put down something like $390,000.

12-25-2009, 10:11 PM	#7
heh Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: lo-ca-tion; Noun- 1. a place or situation occupied: That house is in a fine location Gender: Posts: 9,849 Thanks: 710 Thanked 955 Times in 628 Posts	probably have to go with 2-10 k depending on how many people there are.