# Probability question concerning odd makers and spread

1. Oct 23, 2011

### iceblits

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

A bookie will pay you 6$for every 1$ bet if you correctly select the winners (adjusted by a spread) in three games. What is the bookies expected earnings? (spread is how much the team wins by, and, when added to the underdog's score, should result in a tie)

2. Relevant equations

E[x]=sum(x*f(x))

3. The attempt at a solution
I'm having trouble getting started and making a probability density function for this because I don't really know how to deal with "the spread". If there was no spread would the pdf look like this?:
X=number of winners selected........money earned by bookie.......probability
0.................................................... $3.............................. 1/8 1....................................................$-3...............................3/8
2................................................... $-9................................3/8 3.....................................................$-15...............................1/8

and then his expected earnings for this would be 3*(18)+(-3)*(3/8)+(-9)*(3/8)+(-15)*(1/8)