stats riddle

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stats riddle
Message posted by Barbara (via 63.253.73.9) on June 20, 2001 at 8:05 AM (ET)

Here is a question to be solv-ed using an established, but not so well known statistical theory. It is xtra credit for a class I am taking. 100 potential mates are walking in front of you one by one and you have to make your selection on level of attractiveness; after each passes by, you can't go back- but if you pick early, you will never see who is at the end of the line. Supposedly there's a way to increase your liklihood that you'll pick the most attractive mate. How??????

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Re: stats riddle
Message posted by JG (via 128.8.22.5) on June 20, 2001 at 12:44 PM (ET)

This is a well known problem in decision theory. It is usually stated in terms of making a bid for a house, etc. by purchaser who is being shown houses in sequance, etc. At the moment, I can't remember further details except that the problem had been solve approximatily 50 years ago.

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