#+title: A better than even chance #+date: <2023-02-10 Fri 21:44> #+author: thebesttv 看 SICP 的时候发现的. 不算个特定的短语吧, 就是 better than + an even chance, 不过第一次看的时候还没反应过来hh #+begin_quote Thus, if $n$ passes the test for some random choice of $a$, *the chances are better than even* that $n$ is prime. If $n$ passes the test for two random choices of $a$, the chances are better than 3 out of 4 that $n$ is prime. By running the test with more and more randomly chosen values of $a$ we can make the probability of error as small as we like. ---Section 1.2.6 /Example: Testing for Primality/; subsection /Probabilistic methods/ #+end_quote 挺有意思的说法: *the chances are better than even*. 主要就是 an even chance 是啥意思: an equally balanced probability (两两开). 当然, 除了 even chance, 还有 even probability/likelihood - I'd say he has an even chance of winning the match. - There was always better than an even chance of something like this happening. - In a Duel they have an even chance for their lives. - We have seen that there is at least an even likelihood that the babe was a boy. 一些个例句: - Webster 对 odds-on 的第一个解释: having or viewed as having a better than even chance to win. E.g. the odds-on favorite - There exists an invention that seems to have a better than even chance of rendering 40,000,000 radio sets obsolete and of upsetting the status quo of the broadcasting industry. - Most expatriate (侨民) employees have a better than even probability of getting their hands on the steering wheel of a company car.