Parrondo's paradox
Date
1999
Authors
Harmer, G.
Abbott, D.
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Type:
Journal article
Citation
Statistical Science, 1999; 14(2):206-213
Statement of Responsibility
G. P. Harmer and D. Abbott
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Abstract
We introduce Parrondo’s paradox that involves games of chance. We consider two fair gambling games, A and B, both of which can be made to have a losing expectation by changing a biasing parameter ε . When the two games are played in any alternating order, a winning expectation is produced, even though A and B are now losing games when played individually. This strikingly counter-intuitive result is a consequence of discrete-time Markov chains and we develop a heuristic explanation of the phenomenon in terms of a Brownian ratchet model. As well as having possible applications in electronic signal processing, we suggest important applications in a wide range of physical processes, biological models, genetic models and sociological models. Its impact on stock market models is also an interesting open question. © 1999 Institute of Mathematical Statistics.