Will anyone achieve a perfect score?
Posted: Mon Jan 25, 2010 6:13 pm
A perfect score on Countdown is 248. Will anyone achieve this in Countdown's history?
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IAWTP. 11 letters rounds with 18 points each (! ), plus 10 points each for 3 numbers rounds plus conundrum.james doohan wrote:238 would the be maximum surely Jason?
Unfortunately not Jason. I did it at home. I was keeping it a secret until you started this thread!Jason Larsen wrote:Did you do that well on Apterous, Matt?
Wow!
Yes, I remember a game that involved Ben Wilson which had like 5.Julie T wrote: I would say that the probability of all letters rounds having a 9 letter word possible, is pretty much nil. Has there ever been more than 3? I expect someone will know.
The highest max game was 173, achieved in Des Lynam's 2nd week. There were 5 9's, yet neither contestant got a century.Darren Carter wrote:Yes, I remember a game that involved Ben Wilson which had like 5.Julie T wrote: I would say that the probability of all letters rounds having a 9 letter word possible, is pretty much nil. Has there ever been more than 3? I expect someone will know.
Edit: Actually no, it had 4 - quite a few have had 4 9's.
About 5% of rounds have nines, so a game with all nines would occur about once in every 7 million billion games. Of course this is a significant underestimate, because each nine gets less and less probable as the nice letters get used up, and the numbers aren't guaranteed to yield 30 points either. So basically, no.JimBentley wrote:I don't like to get all technical and nerdy and that (I do really) it's never ever going to happen unless the letters are rigged for it. Numbers and conundrum are trivial, but if the letters follow the distribution of the show (and apterous) then it can't really happen.
I'm glad you did this calculation asCharlie Reams wrote:About 5% of rounds have nines, so a game with all nines would occur about once in every 7 million billion games.
Jason, do you mean for someone to get a score of 238...by getting 11 9 letter words, all 3 numbers and the conundrum?Jason Larsen wrote:It can't happen unless they rigged the game? No way.
So basically 3 numbers and 12 conundrums where the conundrums could end in S. A think a couple may get it if we know it's there...as it's easier to spot a 9 if you know there's one there.Marc Meakin wrote:It would be good if the duel was to contrive a perfect game scenario, on Apterous.
I wonder how many would get it?
I guess after the first 4 rounds maybe some of you experts might recognise the pattern but I guess a few S ending words would make some players have to think a bit.Kirk Bevins wrote:So basically 3 numbers and 12 conundrums where the conundrums could end in S. A think a couple may get it if we know it's there...as it's easier to spot a 9 if you know there's one there.Marc Meakin wrote:It would be good if the duel was to contrive a perfect game scenario, on Apterous.
I wonder how many would get it?
That's why I was asking if anyone knows the distribution so I could write a little app to calculate a possible sequence.Gavin Chipper wrote:There was a thread (at least one) where people came up with possible shuffles that would result in nines in every round, while keeping the standard distribution of letters. This doesn't make it remotely likely of course, but I think it's theoretically possible.
Does this http://www.thecountdownpage.com/letters.htm helpAlec Rivers wrote:That's why I was asking if anyone knows the distribution so I could write a little app to calculate a possible sequence.Gavin Chipper wrote:There was a thread (at least one) where people came up with possible shuffles that would result in nines in every round, while keeping the standard distribution of letters. This doesn't make it remotely likely of course, but I think it's theoretically possible.
No, I am only good with Google.Gavin Chipper wrote:Mark, would you know where the thread I was talking about is as well?
And then of course, when the once in 7 million billion games comes up, you need a contestant to score the max. Which so far as we know has only happened once in 5,000 episodes. So multiply the odds by another 5,000 or so.Charlie Reams wrote:About 5% of rounds have nines, so a game with all nines would occur about once in every 7 million billion games. Of course this is a significant underestimate, because each nine gets less and less probable as the nice letters get used up, and the numbers aren't guaranteed to yield 30 points either. So basically, no.
Correction: Has happened once since the start of the 15 round format, which is far less (or fewer, I think) than 5000.David Roe wrote: Which so far as we know has only happened once in 5,000 episodes. So multiply the odds by another 5,000 or so.
It does perfectly, thank you.Marc Meakin wrote:Does this http://www.thecountdownpage.com/letters.htm help
I couldn't find it there. The thread consisted mainly of hilarious quotes of really long word lists (you had to be there). But this is related and it goes further by including the conundrum and a spare round!Matt Morrison wrote:try searching off-topic for "countdown dice" - that's ringing my bell.
Sounds like a dangerous move.Alec Rivers wrote:It does perfectly, thank you.Marc Meakin wrote:Does this http://www.thecountdownpage.com/letters.htm help
EDIT: That list shows the letters J, K, Q, V, W, X, Y, and Z occurring only once but they come up more than once in a game, so I'm assuming the entire list is duplicated at least once.
What if someone ask me to make a word from ERENV apart from nerve.Jason Larsen wrote:It can happen because "lightning can strike." I'm just trying to be optimistic! Someone just might be able to beat the odds! Don't say never!
Just say ERVEN.Marc Meakin wrote:What if someone ask me to make a word from ERENV apart from nerve.Jason Larsen wrote:It can happen because "lightning can strike." I'm just trying to be optimistic! Someone just might be able to beat the odds! Don't say never!
Well I never.Alec Rivers wrote:Just say ERVEN.Marc Meakin wrote:What if someone ask me to make a word from ERENV apart from nerve.Jason Larsen wrote:It can happen because "lightning can strike." I'm just trying to be optimistic! Someone just might be able to beat the odds! Don't say never!
It should be quite easy to guarantee the possibility of a 9 in every round if you know in advance how many consonants and vowels the contestants will choose.Gavin Chipper wrote:There was a thread (at least one) where people came up with possible shuffles that would result in nines in every round, while keeping the standard distribution of letters. This doesn't make it remotely likely of course, but I think it's theoretically possible.
Yes, Jason, it can happen. Just as you can toss a coin twelve times in a row and it will land on its edge each time. Or that your house will explode in a gas blast and the bricks will reassemble themselves exactly as before half a mile away. Or that there's a 66-car pile-up on Route 66 and every single driver and passenger is called Jason Larsen. It can happen, but it isn't likely.Jason Larsen wrote:It can happen because "lightning can strike." I'm just trying to be optimistic! Someone just might be able to beat the odds! Don't say never!
Or this. (Just thought of it when you mentioned all those.)David Roe wrote:Yes, Jason, it can happen. Just as you can toss a coin twelve times in a row and it will land on its edge each time. Or that your house will explode in a gas blast and the bricks will reassemble themselves exactly as before half a mile away. Or that there's a 66-car pile-up on Route 66 and every single driver and passenger is called Jason Larsen. It can happen, but it isn't likely.Jason Larsen wrote:It can happen because "lightning can strike." I'm just trying to be optimistic! Someone just might be able to beat the odds! Don't say never!
lol. Nice thought experiment except for one crucial element, namely the implication that every aspect of our conscious being is stored physically in our brain cells. If that were the case, our personalities and traits would be subject to continual change as random brain cells die in their hundreds every second and are replaced by new ones.Gavin Chipper wrote:Or this.
It was only last year that you were telling us you were the same as us.Jason Larsen wrote:The reason being, we're all different.
Thanks. But that doesn't detract from David's original assertion that the odds of somebody achieving a score of 238 in one game of Countdown are almost immeasurably small. It is not enough to say it is improbable, it is improbable on a startling scale. Sorry, Jason, but there's more chance that Drew Carey will arrive on your doorstep tomorrow wearing a pink tutu and offer you a multi-million dollar contract to co-host a bunch of prime-time game shows for the next ten years.Jason Larsen wrote:Alec, exactly!
Brain cells "in their hundreds" isn't really that many. Obviously it adds up over long periods of time, but I would say personality and traits can and do change at least somewhat over long periods of time.Alec Rivers wrote: lol. Nice thought experiment except for one crucial element, namely the implication that every aspect of our conscious being is stored physically in our brain cells. If that were the case, our personalities and traits would be subject to continual change as random brain cells die in their hundreds every second and are replaced by new ones.
That my figures might be inaccurate is irrelevant - my point is that the claim that our entire 'being' is stored physically in our brain cells is only an assumption.Innis Carson wrote:Brain cells "in their hundreds" isn't really that many. Obviously it adds up over long periods of time, but I would say personality and traits can and do change at least somewhat over long periods of time.Alec Rivers wrote: lol. Nice thought experiment except for one crucial element, namely the implication that every aspect of our conscious being is stored physically in our brain cells. If that were the case, our personalities and traits would be subject to continual change as random brain cells die in their hundreds every second and are replaced by new ones.
Ha. That's what they want you to think.Jason Larsen wrote:... we both live in free countries
It's a very, very reasonable one though.Alec Rivers wrote:That my figures might be inaccurate is irrelevant - my point is that the claim that our entire 'being' is stored physically in our brain cells is only an assumption.
Also there can't be a vacuum between the Earth and the Sun or the light would have nothing to travel through.Alec Rivers wrote:lol. Nice thought experiment except for one crucial element, namely the implication that every aspect of our conscious being is stored physically in our brain cells. If that were the case, our personalities and traits would be subject to continual change as random brain cells die in their hundreds every second and are replaced by new ones.Gavin Chipper wrote:Or this.
Higgs Field.Charlie Reams wrote:Also there can't be a vacuum between the Earth and the Sun or the light would have nothing to travel through.
Saturday night, I feel the air is getting hot - like you, baby.Alec Rivers wrote:Higgs Field.Charlie Reams wrote:Also there can't be a vacuum between the Earth and the Sun or the light would have nothing to travel through.
No, it's called England, which, along with Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland form "The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland".Jason Larsen wrote:What is your country called? The United Kingdom
LOLJon Corby wrote:Saturday night, I feel the air is getting hot - like you, baby.Alec Rivers wrote:Higgs Field.Charlie Reams wrote:Also there can't be a vacuum between the Earth and the Sun or the light would have nothing to travel through.
But on Sporcle, you have to put "United Kingdom" when listing the countries. What point is there in carrying on if we can't even trust Sporcle?Alec Rivers wrote:No, it's called England, which, along with Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland form "The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland".Jason Larsen wrote:What is your country called? The United Kingdom
Well they are neither UN member states nor any of 3 other widely recognized nations.Gavin Chipper wrote:Also, weird places like Gibraltar, Isle of Man, Channel Islands etc., are they neither a country or in a country?
I was just mocking your bad science.Alec Rivers wrote:Higgs Field.Charlie Reams wrote:Also there can't be a vacuum between the Earth and the Sun or the light would have nothing to travel through.
Okay, but we don't all spend our entire lives trying to be scientific. There's being human, too.Charlie Reams wrote:I was just mocking your bad science.Alec Rivers wrote:Higgs Field.Charlie Reams wrote:Also there can't be a vacuum between the Earth and the Sun or the light would have nothing to travel through.