I had no idea that there was a real, long-standing controversy over a probability puzzle known internationally as the "Monty Hall problem/a>." Monty Hall! Here it is: Okay, you're on "Let's Make a Deal" and Monty asks you to pick one of the three doors for the grand prize. You pick one. He reveals that behind one of the others is a joke prize, say, a goat. And then he offers to let you change your pick to the other remaining curtain or stay with the one you picked. Does changing at that point increase your odds? Turns out that the real answer is... not what you think. Your chances at that point have not changed to 50/50, and switching actually doubles your chances of getting the prize. How? Okay, if you stick with the original, you have the same 33% chance of winning that you had to start. When the other door's opened, it doesn't start a new game. Same 33% each door. But if you stick, you only win if you were right all along (33%). If you switch, you win if you initially picked a goat -- 66% chance of being right after switching. Does that make sense? Not entirely, but that's the answer they give. Read it over and over (it's entertaining enough) until the light bulb goes on. (BBC)
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Perry Michael Simon is Vice President and Editor/News-Talk-Sports/Podcast for AllAccess.com and the former Program Director and Operations Manager at stations like KLSX and KLYY (Y107)/Los Angeles and WKXW (New Jersey 101.5)/Trenton. He's been on-air and written stuff for TV and websites and other stuff he doesn't remember all that well. He can also be found at Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and pmsimon.com, if you're so inclined. In addition, he's the former Editor-in-Chief at Nerdist.com and Director of Programming at the Nerdist Podcast Network.