You are signed in. Close

You are signed out. Close

Thank you. Your subscription has started. Close

Thank you. You will get an email when a new comic comes out. Close

We could not confirm your payment. If you paid, use the link "Sign in" at the bottom of the page. Close

Something went wrong on our side. Please try again in a moment. Close

Previous episode The birthday paradox explained: count the pairs, not the people

The birthday paradox: why 23 people are enough to share a birthday

How to calculate the birthday paradox probability, one person at a time

Each pair of people in a group shares a birthday 1 time in 365, but adding up those chances gives the wrong answer. So how do you count the real chance that two people share a birthday, with no formula?

  1. 1 Adding cannot be right. With 28 people, the pairs would add up to 104 chances in 100: more than sure. The pairs share people: Miva alone is in 27 of them. So adding counts some chances more than once.100 in 10028 people, 378 pairs:added up, 104 in 100?Miva is in 27 pairs

    Adding cannot be right. With 28 people, the pairs would add up to 104 chances in 100: more than sure. The pairs share people: Miva alone is in 27 of them. So adding counts some chances more than once.

  2. 2 Rono turns the question around: what is the chance that nobody matches at all? He hangs a calendar of 365 days and marks each birthday as he reads it. The first passport can land on any day.When doesnobody match?Ronopassport 1

    Rono turns the question around: what is the chance that nobody matches at all? He hangs a calendar of 365 days and marks each birthday as he reads it. The first passport can land on any day.

The rest of this episode is for subscribers

Subscribe to read every premium episode. You can cancel when you want.

Paid yearly: $99 instead of $119.88

Next episode The birthday paradox beyond birthdays: how many random picks until two match?

Share this comic

More comics