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Problem 852


Problem 852


Coins in a Box

This game has a box of $N$ unfair coins and $N$ fair coins. Fair coins have probability $50\%$ of landing heads while unfair coins have probability $75\%$ of landing heads.

The player begins with a score of $0$ which may become negative during play.

At each round the player randomly picks a coin from the box and guesses its type: fair or unfair. Before guessing they may toss the coin any number of times; however, each toss subtracts $1$ from their score. The decision to stop tossing and make a guess can be made at any time. After guessing the player’s score is increased by $20$ if they are right and decreased by $50$ if they are wrong. Then the coin type is revealed to the player and the coin is discarded.

After $2N$ rounds the box will be empty and the game is over. Let $S(N)$ be the expected score of the player at the end of the game assuming that they play optimally in order to maximize their expected score.

You are given $S(1) = 20.558591$ rounded to $6$ digits after the decimal point.

Find $S(50)$. Give your answer rounded to $6$ digits after the decimal point.


盒中硬币

盒中有$N$枚公平硬币和$N$枚不公平硬币。公平硬币有$50\%$的概率正面朝上,而不公平硬币有$75\%$的概率正面朝上。

游戏开始时,玩家的分数为$0$,在游戏过程中其分数可以为负。

每一轮,玩家从盒中随机选择一枚硬币,并猜测它是否公平。在猜测之前,玩家可以任意次抛掷这枚硬币,但是每次抛掷会扣$1$分。玩家可以随时停止抛掷并给出猜测,猜对得$20$分,猜错扣$50$分。揭晓猜测结果后,这枚硬币会被移出游戏。

在$2N$轮之后,盒中将没有硬币,游戏结束。假设玩家总是采取最优策略以最大化期望分数,并记游戏结束时玩家的期望分数为$S(N)$。

已知$S(1) = 20.558591$,保留$6$位小数。

求$S(50)$并保留$6$位小数。