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Thanks, Ken Larsen

Posted By: Paul Weaver
Date: Sunday, 7 March 2010, at 3:31 p.m.

In Response To: Chicago Update #2 (Ken Larsen)

Ken Larsen wrote, "The probability of going 8-0 is 1/256 or 0.0039 or 0.39% ... assuming everyone has equal skill level ... which has zero probability.

To go 1-0 is 1/2. To go 2-0 is 1/4. To go 3-0 is 1/8. To go 4-0 is 1/16. To go 5-0 is 1/32. To go 6-0 is 1/64. To go 7-0 is 1/128. To go 8-0 is 1/256."

Hello Ken,

Thank you very much for the lesson, but it was way above my head.

I did, however, notice some very interesting things from the numbers above.

Years ago, I discovered the remarkable coincidence that all six numbers on the doubling cube are even. I verified this fact with Dr. Douglas Zare who confirmed it and complimented me for making this discovery. Dt. Zare wrote me that these six numbers are indeed even and they are likely to remain even numbers for some time to come in the future.

I have extended my research into the six numbers on the doubling cube (2, 4, 8, 16, 32 and 64) and I have discovered that they are also the same numbers that are required to fill a backgammon draw sheet without any byes. For example, if you have five rounds, it takes 32 players, and 32 is one of the numbers on the doubling cube. I take full credit for being the first to discover this remarkable coincidence.

It leads me suspect that the person who chose the numbers on the doubling cube must have been an experienced backgammon tournament director.

Now I have just discovered another remarkable coincidence: The same six numbers on the doubling cube also appeared in Ken's probability lesson that he gave to me.

This is an uncanny coincidence, and I promise I will ponder it in my heart until I get a better handle on it.

In the meantime, thanks for the lesson.

By the way, Joe Russell, agreed with me that O'Hagan was about 1/8 to win eight matches in a row.

Messages In This Thread

• Chicago Update #2
  Paul Weaver -- Sunday, 7 March 2010, at 8:53 a.m.
  • Chicago Update #2
    Ken Larsen -- Sunday, 7 March 2010, at 11:43 a.m.
    • Chicago Update #2
      joe freedman -- Sunday, 7 March 2010, at 12:51 p.m.
      • Chicago Update #2
        Ken Larsen -- Sunday, 7 March 2010, at 1:24 p.m.
        • Chicago Update #2
          Chuck Bower -- Sunday, 7 March 2010, at 2:49 p.m.
          • Chicago Update #2
            garyo -- Sunday, 7 March 2010, at 6:21 p.m.
    • Chicago Update #2
      Joe Russell -- Sunday, 7 March 2010, at 1:26 p.m.
      • Chicago Update #2
        neilkaz -- Sunday, 7 March 2010, at 3:31 p.m.
    • Thanks, Ken Larsen
      Paul Weaver -- Sunday, 7 March 2010, at 3:31 p.m.
      • Thanks, Ken Larsen
        rory -- Monday, 8 March 2010, at 7:58 a.m.
        • I agree, POY Nomination *NM*
          David -- Monday, 8 March 2010, at 3:59 p.m.
    • Chicago Update #2
      Bob Koca -- Sunday, 7 March 2010, at 5:10 p.m.
    • Chicago Update #2: John O'Hagan
      Bob Glass -- Monday, 8 March 2010, at 9:11 p.m.
      • Chicago Update #2: John O'Hagan
        John O'Hagan -- Monday, 8 March 2010, at 9:56 p.m.
        • Chicago Update #2: John O'Hagan
          David Rockwell -- Monday, 8 March 2010, at 10:31 p.m.
          • Chicago Update #2: John O'Hagan
            Timothy Chow -- Monday, 8 March 2010, at 11:03 p.m.
            • Chicago Update #2: John O'Hagan
              John O'Hagan -- Monday, 8 March 2010, at 11:54 p.m.
              • Chicago Update #2: John O'Hagan
                Stick -- Tuesday, 9 March 2010, at 12:30 a.m.
  • Chicago Update #2
    Chase -- Sunday, 7 March 2010, at 12:44 p.m.
  • Chicago Update #2
    Stick -- Sunday, 7 March 2010, at 5:01 p.m.
    • Chicago Update #2
      jdg -- Sunday, 7 March 2010, at 5:08 p.m.
      • Chicago Update #2
        Stick -- Sunday, 7 March 2010, at 5:14 p.m.
      • Chicago Update #2
        garyo -- Sunday, 7 March 2010, at 6:16 p.m.
  • Chicago Update #2
    Jason Lee -- Sunday, 7 March 2010, at 7:42 p.m.
  • Chicago Update #2
    Jason Lee -- Sunday, 7 March 2010, at 7:43 p.m.
  • Chicago Update #2
    Chiva Tafazzoli -- Sunday, 7 March 2010, at 8:56 p.m.
    • Chicago Update #2
      Sam Pottle -- Monday, 8 March 2010, at 1:08 a.m.
  • Chicago Update #2 (late night..early morning)
    neilkaz -- Monday, 8 March 2010, at 1:51 a.m.