October 15, 2018

Snakes - Yes SNAKES - and Ladders

“The average length of a game without snakes or ladders (just the 100-square board) is almost exactly 33 moves.”

 

“The shortest possible game lasts seven moves, the longest is infinite, and according to calculations the expected number of moves in the Milton Bradley version of Snakes¹ and Ladders is about 39.2.

 

“Troublingly, the average length of a game without snakes or ladders (just the 100-square board) is almost exactly 33 moves.“

 

“In the original game, adding a ladder from square 79 to square 81 lengthens the expected playing time by more than two moves (to about 41.9)”

Futility Closet

The Full Story

Conclusion …

1] Might we advance more quickly through life with more vice and less virtue?

2] If you consider the footnote, is it that America truly is an ‘ophidiophobic’ nation (as the article has it), or is it that they just can’t resist changing absolutely everything!

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1. ‘Chutes’ - if you don’t ‘speak’ English↩︎

humanity

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