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The Game Show Forum => The Big Board => Topic started by: Neumms on May 06, 2015, 07:59:09 PM

Title: Why Ken Jennings' streak is safe
Post by: Neumms on May 06, 2015, 07:59:09 PM

Interesting analysis from FiveThirtyEight:
http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/ken-jenningss-jeopardy-streak-is-safe-for-the-rest-of-time/ (http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/ken-jenningss-jeopardy-streak-is-safe-for-the-rest-of-time/)

Title: Re: Why Ken Jennings' streak is safe
Post by: TLEberle on May 06, 2015, 08:09:09 PM

While I'm not crazy about the phrase "game show game theory" that's mentioned, The Final Wager is a fun li'l website that is linked within the article, and features a list of all players eligible for the next Tournament of Champions, top one-day winners and all sorts of statistical ephemera.

Title: Re: Why Ken Jennings' streak is safe
Post by: Neumms on May 08, 2015, 11:32:13 AM

Quote from: TLEberle on May 06, 2015, 08:09:09 PM

The Final Wager is a fun li'l website that is linked within the article...

I went there, too. It's terrific, but dang, the math is complicated. That or it's been far too long since I took algebra. Here's a link to that: http://thefinalwager.co/numbers/ (http://thefinalwager.co/numbers/)

Title: Re: Why Ken Jennings' streak is safe
Post by: TLEberle on May 08, 2015, 05:03:50 PM

Quote from: Neumms on May 08, 2015, 11:32:13 AM

I went there, too. It's terrific, but dang, the math is complicated. That or it's been far too long since I took algebra. Here's a link to that: http://thefinalwager.co/numbers/ (http://thefinalwager.co/numbers/)

I don't worry overmuch about the math side of it, I just enjoy the articles. One in particular caught my fancy was about turning the tournament wild card spots into a draft lottery, where each runner-up would get one ticket in the drum per $money amount (In Keith's case, $1,000) and the show would draw until there were four unique names.