Probabillities in the World Cup

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the probabilities associated with two simultaneous football games, specifically focusing on the likelihood of desired outcomes for each game. Participants explore the implications of conditional probabilities and the influence of game dynamics on these probabilities.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant proposes that the probabilities of both teams winning are 6% and the probability of winning one or both teams is 44%, but seeks validation of this calculation.
  • Another participant requests reasoning and working behind the proposed probabilities.
  • Some participants argue that the outcomes of one game can affect the probabilities of the other game, suggesting that if one team wins, the opposing team may play more aggressively in the second game.
  • There is a suggestion that the assumption of constant win probabilities may not hold true due to tactical changes based on the outcomes of the other game.
  • One participant notes that win probabilities can change during the game, regardless of players' knowledge of the other game's status.
  • A later reply emphasizes that if no information is available about the other game, the situation simplifies significantly.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the impact of one game's outcome on the other. There are competing views on whether the probabilities are constant or influenced by game dynamics.

Contextual Notes

The discussion highlights the complexity of calculating probabilities in real-life scenarios, where assumptions about independence and constant probabilities may not apply. The lack of clarity on conditional probabilities and their effects remains unresolved.

Hepic
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I was watching yesterday my county(Greece) in international cup,and I thought something about probabillities. Let's say, that two football games take place the same time. In the first game, the team that we want to win has 30% to win,and in the second game the team that,we want to win has 20% to win.

I think that the probabillities to win both team are 6%,and the probabillities to win one or both teams are 44%.

I am correct??

(Two differents games,with four differents teams.)
 
Last edited:
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Please state your reasoning and show your working ;)
 
It depends. If your team wins the first game, the chances of winning the second game go down because the other team won't want to lose both, they'll play aggressively and may put their best players on. But if the first game is a draw, the second will be easier to win. So there's not a clear answer to this question without knowing the conditional probabilities.
 
verty said:
It depends. If your team wins the first game, the chances of winning the second game go down because the other team won't want to lose both, they'll play aggressively and may put their best players on. But if the first game is a draw, the second will be easier to win. So there's not a clear answer to this question without knowing the conditional probabilities.
In the problem statement it says...
Hepic said:
Let's say, that two football games take place [at] the same time.
The two games are taking place at the same time - in each game we have a favorite team.
i.e. in the first game it may be Greece vs Spain - and we prefer Greece to win; and in the second game it is New Zealand vs Australia, and we prefer New Zealand to win.

How would the result of one game affect the result of the other one?
 
Simon Bridge said:
How would the result of one game affect the result of the other one?

Players know what is going on on the other stadium, so they change their tactics accordingly. If the result of the other game is good for them they won't press that hard, if the result is bad, they try hard to score. Happens all the time. Thus I don't think the assumption that win probability for each team is constant.

But perhaps we are trying to solve life-like problem, instead of much simpler, _rigid_ problem defined by OP.
 
You mean the win probability could change during the game?
That's actually a given, even if the players don't know what happens in the other stadium.

Need the feedback from Hepic.
 
Same time, no information, then it is indeed very much simpler.
 

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