Figure 17-4. Aaron and Ed are roommates. After a big snowstorm, their driveway needs to be shoveled. Each person has to decide whether to take part in shoveling the driveway. At the end of the day, either the driveway will be shoveled (if one or both roommates take part in shoveling), or it will remain unshoveled (if neither roommate shovels). With happiness measured on a scale of 1 (very unhappy) to 10 (very happy), the possible outcomes are as follows:
-Refer to Figure 17-4. If this game is played only once, then which of the following outcomes is the most likely one?
A)Aaron and Ed both shovel.
B)Aaron shovels and Ed does not shovel.
C)Ed shovels and Aaron does not shovel.
D)All of the above outcomes are equally likely.

Question

Figure 17-4. Aaron and Ed are roommates. After a big snowstorm, their driveway needs to be shoveled. Each person has to decide whether to take part in shoveling the driveway. At the end of the day, either the driveway will be shoveled (if one or both roommates take part in shoveling), or it will remain unshoveled (if neither roommate shovels). With happiness measured on a scale of 1 (very unhappy) to 10 (very happy), the possible outcomes are as follows: 
-Refer to Figure 17-4. If this game is played only once, then which of the following outcomes is the most likely one?
A)Aaron and Ed both shovel. 
B)Aaron shovels and Ed does not shovel. 
C)Ed shovels and Aaron does not shovel. 
D)All of the above outcomes are equally likely.

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This outcome is the most likely because it benefits one player while the other player does not receive any benefit. Aaron would receive a happiness level of 7 if he shovels alone, while Ed would receive a happiness level of 1 if he does not shovel at all. This creates a situation where Aaron has an incentive to shovel while Ed does not, making it the most likely outcome. The other two outcomes (both shoveling or neither shoveling) would require both players to have the same level of motivation or lack of motivation, making them less likely to occur in a one-time game.