DUEL_SIMULATION
Simulation of a Duel

DUEL_SIMULATION is a C++ program which simulates N instances of a duel between two players.

Player A fires at player B, and hits with a probability of A_ACCURACY. If Player A misses, then Player B fires at Player A, hitting with a probability of B_ACCURACY.

The duel continues with alternating shots until only one player survives.

The simulation is intended to estimate the probabilities that a player will survive.

The exact probability that player 1 will survive is

P(1) / ( P(1) + P(2) - P(1) * P(2) )

P(2) * ( 1 - P(1) ) / ( P(1) + P(2) - P(1) * P(2) ).

Licensing:

The computer code and data files described and made available on this web page are distributed under the GNU LGPL license.

Languages:

DUEL_SIMULATION is available in a C version and a C++ version and a FORTRAN77 version and a FORTRAN90 version and a Mathematica version and a MATLAB version.

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Reference:

1. Paul Nahin,
   Duelling Idiots and Other Probability Puzzlers,
   Princeton University Press, 2000,
   ISBN13: 978-0691009797,
   LC: QA273.N29.
2. Martin Shubik,
   "Does the Fittest Necessarily Survive?",
   in Readings in Game Theory and Political Behavior,
   edited by Martin Shubik,
   Doubleday, 1954,
   LC: H61.S53.

Source Code:

• duel_simulation.cpp, the program.
• duel_simulation.sh, a BASH script to compile, link and load the program.

You can go up one level to the C++ source codes.