[net.math] six coins in the cabinets

keithe@teklabs.UUCP (08/19/83)

Let me expand on Ken Turkowski's explanation:

After you select a gold coin, you have the following possible
systems:

Possibility 1:
    G1 in hand
     -------------          -------------
    |             |        |             |
    |   empty     |        |     G3      |
    |             |        |             |
     -------------          -------------
    |             |        |             |
    |     G2      |        |     S3      |
    |             |        |             |
     -------------          -------------


Possibility 2:
    G2 in hand
     -------------          -------------
    |             |        |             |
    |     G1      |        |     G3      |
    |             |        |             |
     -------------          -------------
    |             |        |             |
    |   empty     |        |     S3      |
    |             |        |             |
     -------------          -------------


Possibility 3:
    G3 in hand
     -------------          -------------
    |             |        |             |
    |    G1       |        |    empty    |
    |             |        |             |
     -------------          -------------
    |             |        |             |
    |    G2       |        |     S3      |
    |             |        |             |
     -------------          -------------

Now you can see that there are 2 out of 3 chances of
selecting a gold coin from the other drawer.