Re: Two-envelope problem

[VietHai.Nguyen@di.epfl.ch (Viet Hai NGUYEN)]

Hi,

I dont see any restriction from the problem statement that opening
(choose) the other envelope excludes keeping $100. So why dont I take
both, no matter the sum is 150 or 300 :-)

>  Since two envelopes look identical,then the probability of choosing a
> bigger/less amount containing envelopes for the first choice are 1/2
> and 1/2, respectively.If no info added,then the amount of money inside
> each envelope does not depend on whether we look at it or not,thus two

Your argument is interesting, however I could not agree for a "human"
reason:  if I see ONE MILLION $ in the first envelope, I'd keep it and
run as quickly as possible home or to my bank (in the US: police escort
neccessary!).  If it is only 100$, then I take the risk to exchange
with the other one.  Anyway, the chance to get 100$ more is the same as
losing 50$, isn't it?

What do you think?



I have another also interesting question but without anything related
to the above:

What will you choose to do (would you be pursuing your PhD?) 
IF EVERYBODY RECEIVES THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY EACH MONTH to the last
second of his life, WHATEVER HE DOES (working in the lab, writing,
publishing first-class or second rate papers, .... , travelling around
the world  - with rucksack nhu+ ta^y ba-lo^ tho^i nhe'- playing at
sony play-station, watching TV all day while cracking potato
chips, managing VNSA-list, ... you name it yourself).

Have a nive week-end,
VH