General Grant Must Send Orders to General Butler

question 20

Essay

General Grant must send orders to General Butler. Carrier pigeons are the medium of choice. A single pigeon has a .7 probability of arriving at the proper destination in a timely fashion. How many pigeons, each carrying an identical set of orders, must Grant send in order for him to have 98% confidence that the orders reached General Butler?

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Definitions:

Simple Majority

A voting requirement where more than half of the votes cast by members entitled to vote is sufficient for decision-making.

Decision-making

The cognitive process of selecting a course of action from among multiple alternatives.

Minority Opinions

Perspectives or viewpoints held by a small segment of a group, which often differ from the dominant or majority views.

Disarming

The act of reducing hostility or suspicion, typically through charm, friendliness, or a straightforward approach.