Sory once again for that incomplete answer. The complete one is here. probability that i win standing at second position: 1/365 probability that i win standing at third position : 364/365*2/365 = 1/365)*(628/365) probability that i win standing at fourth position : 364/365*363/365*3/365 probability that i win standing at 4th position : 364/365*363/365*362/365*4/365
probability that i win standing at (n+1)th position: (365-1)*(365-2)*(365-3)*(365- 4)*(365-5).....*(365-(n-2))*(365-(n-1))*(n)*(1/365)^n there is a pattern in the probabilities let probability of winning standing at nth position be x probability of winning standing at (n+1)th position = x * {(365 - n +1)*(n)} / {365*(n-1)} maximum probability is at nth position if at (n+1)th position, {(365 - n +1)*(n)} / {365*(n-1)} <= 1 This is true for n>=20 For n=19, {(365 - n +1)*(n)} / {365*(n-1)} > 1 So max probability is when *n=19* i.e., n+1 = 20, which is my position. So standing at 20th position gives me maximum chance of winning Just hope I haven't got anything wrong here. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Algorithm Geeks" group. To post to this group, send email to algogeeks@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to algogeeks+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/algogeeks?hl=en.