Is Deal or No Deal Cheating Its Contestants?

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2011

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Ohio Council of Teachers of Mathematics

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Abstract

As fans of fair contests, we are lead to believe that game shows proceed with mathematical consistency. However, a slight anomaly in this basic assumption can be found while watching the game play of Deal or No Deal. During certain situations it seems like the show is cheating its contestants. Could any mathematician let this question go without further analysis? Of course not! So began an investigation into our hypothesis. Using simple statistical notions like expected value and linear regression, we show how to isolate this mathematical irregularity and provide some evidence of its existence. What does this mean? Is foul play afoot? Read on to find out.

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Ohio Journal of School Mathematics, no. 63 (2011), 5-10.