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To: scripter
Question for balrog666: Do you think random chance has a memory? Why or why not?

Your question is poorly phrased since, by definition, random means not predictable. I will attempt to illustrate the concept with some trivial examples.

Flipping a coin: in general, the answer is no, excepting that some people can control their flip everytime.

Rolling dice: in general, the answer is no, excepting some people can control their rolls to some degree.

Lottery: again, no, unless, like above, it's deliberately fixed.

Building a protein chain: Meaningless question since it's not a random process.

Shall we now discuss the meaning of probability, statistics, or the concept of sample size?

1,929 posted on 06/27/2002 7:59:18 AM PDT by balrog666
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To: All
Another ten posts on the way to #2,000.
1,930 posted on 06/27/2002 8:05:28 AM PDT by PatrickHenry
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To: balrog666; gore3000
Building a protein chain: Meaningless question since it's not a random process. Shall we now discuss the meaning of probability, statistics, or the concept of sample size?

As mentioned earlier I haven't been following this thread very closely. From your response I take it your issue with gore3000 is that you're saying the process involved in building a protein chain is not random and gore3000 says otherwise. Is that correct? If so, if you've already explained how the meaning of probability, statistics or the concept of sample size fits in here, please provide the post number and I'll bring that up to gore3000. If not, would you mind stating how that all fits in and perhaps the discussion can move forward?

1,931 posted on 06/27/2002 9:10:39 AM PDT by scripter
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To: balrog666
The question on random chance having a memory appears to be a variant of what is known as "the gambler's fallacy" -- the notion that, say, a number that wins on a roulette wheel is likely to win on a subsequent turn. Assuming an unfixed game, each number is exactly as likely to come up the winner in each turn of the wheel, irrespective of past results.
1,934 posted on 06/27/2002 11:59:46 AM PDT by Gumlegs
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To: balrog666
Question for balrog666: Do you think random chance has a memory? Why or why not? -scripter-

Lottery: again, no, unless, like above, it's deliberately fixed.

After wasting numerous posts in obfuscation you finally admit that chance has no memory. However your original statement on this was:

The above is absolutely wrong. It is the reason why so many gamblers lose their shirts. If the odds against winning the lottery are say 1 in 100,000,000 and you played it 99,999,999 times wihtout winning, the chances of winning on your next bet are still 1 in 100,000,000. Random events do not have a memory. -me-

No, you are absolutely wrong. If you bet on the lottery on the next 100,000,000 plays, your odds of winning at least once are 0.9999999999.
1824 posted on 6/25/02 5:30 PM Pacific by balrog666

So in a mere matter of 103 posts you have made a complete 180 degree turn in your statements, insulted me numerous times along the way, and continue to insult me even though you now admit to the truth of my original statement. What a dishonest person you are!

2,026 posted on 06/29/2002 7:20:06 AM PDT by gore3000
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