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raincole12/09/20242 repliesview on HN

"I don't know" is the only correct anwser because the original problem isn't properly worded.

You need to (at least) add this statement to the original question:

> The host must open a door in any situation, and you know this rule.

Because "host" in daily language is a human being with agency to choose whether to not open a door. Without this statement, the original problem is actually a game theory problem with two players. The host might be playing a strategy where he only opens the door when he knows you picked the car at the first place, or any other strategy.

The above statement removes the ambiguity and that's what the original author meant (but failed to put in words).

(If you're interesting in this, the wikipedia page linked above actually contains a quite extensive discussion in history over it)


Replies

dooglius12/09/2024

I don't think improper wording makes it an example of the type of puzzle GP is complaining about, because the counter-intuitive aspect holds up when everything is clarified.

copypasterepeat12/09/2024

Ah I see what you mean. Yeah, that makes sense. If the host behavior is not clearly stated then the right answer would indeed be "it can't be determined from available information".