Suppose that two teams play a series of games that end when one of them has won i games. Suppose that each game played is, independently, won by team A with probability p. Find the expected number of games that are played when i = 2. Also show that this number is maximized when p= 21.

a) E(x) = -2p^2 + 2p + 2

b) Number is maximized when p = 1/2

Step-by-step explanation:

Determine the Expected number of games  when ( i ) = 2

The number of possible combinations that both teams win two games :

AA, BB, ABB, ABA, BAA, BAB  = 6 combinations

P( team A winning ) = p

P( team B wins ) = 1 - p

Attached below is the detailed solution on the expected number of games

expected number of games ; E(x) = -2p^2 + 2p + 2

ii) Number is maximized when p = 1/2