There Are Two Gumball Machines Outside the Local Grocery Store

question 53

Multiple Choice

There are two gumball machines outside the local grocery store, one large machine and one small machine. Both machines have only yellow and orange gumballs, and each machine contains 50 percent of each color. For each coin, the large gumball machine dispenses 15 gumballs, while the small machine dispenses 5. Tim is a young genius whose interests include probability and sound decision-making. His "probability project of the day" is to get a greater percentage of either of the colors, but not an equal amount of each color. Given this, and presuming Tim has only one coin,

• A) he should use his coin in the large machine.
• B) he should use his coin in the small machine.
• C) it doesn't make a difference which machine he uses.
• D) he should wait for other people to use the machines and see what they get.

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Definitions:

Sensation

The process by which sensory receptors and the nervous system receive and represent stimuli from the environment.

Sense Of Taste

A sensory experience produced by substances in the mouth reacting chemically with taste receptor cells located on the taste buds.

Severely Cold

Describing an extreme low temperature condition that can potentially cause harm or discomfort.

Sensory Adaptation

The method through which sensory receptors decrease in sensitivity to unchanging stimuli as time progresses.