Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Pick a Winner?

Dear Mathman,

My friends and I are starting a chapter on probability. We were wondering, Do you pick your nose?

Sincerely,
Laura



Dear Laura,

I'm not sure exactly what you are referring to by "Do you pick your nose?" It sounds like this sentence is in the present tense and an ongoing process, so I'd have to say the answer is "No.", as I didn't have any kind of option in choosing my nose. BUT, If I indeed did have several equally likely noses to choose from- let's say 4, the odds I would have chosen my current nose are 1 in 4 = 1/4 = .25 = 25%.

Life is full of choices; You can pick your friends but you can't pick your nose.

Stay radical,
Mathman