Probability problems | Applied probability
Banach's matchbox problem
Banach's match problem is a classic problem in probability attributed to Stefan Banach. Feller says that the problem was inspired by a humorous reference to Banach's smoking habit in a speech honouring him by Hugo Steinhaus, but that it was not Banach who set the problem or provided an answer. Suppose a mathematician carries two matchboxes at all times: one in his left pocket and one in his right. Each time he needs a match, he is equally likely to take it from either pocket. Suppose he reaches into his pocket and discovers for the first time that the box picked is empty. If it is assumed that each of the matchboxes originally contained matches, what is the probability that there are exactly matches in the other box? (Wikipedia).
