three prisoners problem

The three prisoners

Three prisoners are in separate cells and are all sentenced to death. The governor selected one at random to be pardoned. The guard knows who is going to be pardoned but won’t say.

gold-and-silver-bars

Bertrand’s box paradox

I have three boxes, each with 2 compartments. One has two gold bars, one two silver bars and one has one gold and one silver bar. You choose a box at random and open a compartment at random.

water heater

Conjunction fallacy

“Last week, the heat in my apartment crapped out because my water heater broke. I went to a person, showed him the water heater, he used a bunch of spare parts and then fixed it. I paid him for the repairs.”

goat

The Monty Hall problem

Let’s say you’re on a game show where the host shows you three doors. Behind one of these doors is a brand new car. Behind the other two are goats. You get to pick a door. Then the host will open one of the doors you didn’t pick to reveal one of the goats.

pistol hat spurs bandana

The last word

General Gasslefield, accused of high treason, is sentenced to death by the court-martial. He is allowed to make a final statement, after which he will be shot if the statement is false or will be hung if the statement is true. Gasslefield makes his final statement and is released.