Question

In The Deer Hunter

(1978), the character played by Christopher Walken (Nick) is forced to play Russian roulette.

Suppose that Nick watches a six chamber gun being loaded with two bullets. The each bullet is placed randomly into

a chamber. The cylinder is spun so that the orientation is now random. The first player (let’s call him Andrew) puts

the gun to his head pulls the trigger. (a) What is the probability that Andrew survives? Suppose that he does survive.

Now Nick is given the option of either putting the gun to his head and pulling the trigger, or giving the cylinder a spin

and putting the gun to his head and pulling the trigger. (b) Assuming that Nick wishes to live, which option should

he choose? Now, instead of the two bullets being put into the cylinder randomly, suppose instead that the two bullets

are placed in adjacent chambers. Again, Andrew goes first. (c) What is the probability that Andrew survives? Again,

Nick is given the option of whether to spin the chamber before he plays. (d) Should Nick spin the chamber or not?

Answer 1