Is Who Wants to Be a Millionaire Flawed Like Gödel’s Incompleteness Theorem?

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The discussion analyzes the logical paradox presented in the game show "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire," comparing it to Gödel’s Incompleteness Theorem. Participants highlight that selecting an answer (A, B, C, or D) presents a 25% chance of guessing correctly, yet the percentages displayed do not influence the outcome. The conversation reveals that the paradox arises when considering that if A or D could be correct, it implies C might also be correct, leading to a logical contradiction. This illustrates the complexity of probability and decision-making in seemingly straightforward scenarios.

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Is that real?
 
1'st analysis.
You select a, b, c or d. There is a 25% chance you will guess the right letter.
The available % answers have nothing to do with it.
 
PeroK said:
Is that real?
Doesn't matter. It's funny :smile:
 
Baluncore said:
1'st analysis.
You select a, b, c or d. There is a 25% chance you will guess the right letter.
The available % answers have nothing to do with it.
Are you going for answer A or D?
 
Baluncore said:
The available % answers have nothing to do with it.
This is what I don't know. Do we choose a letter or an answer?
 
Baluncore said:
The available % answers have nothing to do with it.
Which is why it's funny.

By the way, did you notice 25% is listed twice? Seems to me that makes it extra funny because that creates a paradox.
 
The paradox comes in the 2'nd analysis.
You enter an oscillating solution that could be A, D or C.
Since A or D could be correct, that sometimes makes the correct answer C.
So the answer must then be 25%. A or D.
 
This is a question that contains within it a logical contradiction, so not only are A, B, C and D all impossible, but "none of the above" is also impossible (because that would imply that B was correct, a contradiction).

I suppose it's a bit like asking if "This statement is false" is true or false.
 
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  • #10
“The only interesting answers are those which destroy the question”. —Susan Sontag
 
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  • #11
As usual. the key is to read the problem carefully. If I were to guess at random, my probability would be zero. I'm just unlucky.
 
  • #12
PeroK said:
Is that real?
Does nobody like 50%? Two chances of 25%? I am assuming this is a bit of a trick question.
 
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  • #13
It reminds of Godel Incompleteness.
 
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