40 Paradoxes in Logic, Probability, and Game Theory

Book excerpt: This book contains 40 delightful paradoxes. Here is a small sampling.LOGIC: Is it ever right to ask the question: "May I disturb you?" The very act of asking will disturb the person. And yet, I simply can't know if it's correct to ask the question unless I actually ask the question!PROBABILITY: In 2007, the college football team USC was ranked as 7th in the Harris poll, 6th in the USA Today poll, and 6th in the computer rankings. And yet, when the three polls were averaged, USC ended up as being ranked as the 5th best team overall. How is that possible?GAME THEORY: You play game A that is a losing bet. You also play game B that is a losing bet. Yet when you play games A and B alternately that is a winning bet. How can two losing games combine to make a winning game?