Marilyn vos Savant: The Woman with the Highest IQ Record

Marilyn vos Savant, an American writer and columnist, holds the Guinness World Record for the highest IQ, with a score of 228. Her exceptional intelligence and analytical mind led to a fascinating debate surrounding the Monty Hall Problem.

The Monty Hall Problem

The Monty Hall Problem is a probability puzzle based on the game show "Let's Make a Deal." The problem goes like this:

1. A contestant is presented with three doors, behind one of which is a car, and the other two have goats.

2. The contestant chooses a door but does not open it.

3. Monty Hall, the game show host, opens one of the other two doors, revealing a goat.

4. The contestant is given the option to stick with their original choice or switch to the other unopened door.

The Debate

In 1990, Marilyn vos Savant wrote a column in Parade magazine, arguing that the contestant should switch doors. She claimed that the probability of the car being behind the original door was 1/3, while the probability of it being behind one of the other two doors was 2/3.

This sparked a heated debate, with many readers arguing that the probability was 50/50, regardless of whether the contestant switched doors or not. The debate continued for several months, with vos Savant receiving thousands of letters, many of which were critical of her solution.

The Correct Solution

Vos Savant's original solution was correct. The key to the problem is that Monty Hall's actions are not random. He will always reveal a goat, which means that the probability of the car being behind the original door remains 1/3.

When the contestant switches doors, they effectively get to choose both of the other two doors, which have a combined probability of 2/3. This means that the contestant has a 2/3 chance of winning the car if they switch doors.

Conclusion

The Monty Hall Problem and the surrounding debate showcased Marilyn vos Savant's exceptional intelligence and analytical mind. Her correct solution to the problem demonstrated her ability to think critically and outside the box.