KAUN BANEGA CROREPATI (KBC), TANYA’S STORY
(This story, Tanya and the numbers used here are all fictitious)
Indian TV has a show named KBC (Kaun Banega Crorepati). A crorepati means a ten times millionaire. This show is based on the theme of the American show “Who Wants To Be a Millionaire”. The world renown Bollywood actor Amitab Bacchan hosts it. The show is so popular that a movie named Slum Dog Millionaire made on its theme was also a big hit. The players are asked multiple choice questions and must select the correct answer from four possible choices. They are provided with Lifelines that may be used if they are uncertain.
This show is also made for 8-15 year olds. Then it is called KBC junior. The kids, who come to play on this show, talk a lot and the host also takes interest in them. Today after a lot of struggle, an 11 year old girl named Tanya made it to what they call hot seat. Let us see what happens.
Host: Let’s play Kaun Banega Crorepati. Tanya, today you are on the hot seat. How does it feel ?
Tanya: I can’t believe that I have made it to the hot seat.
Host: Aliright, you know the rules of the game. Even then, I suggest every player that if they are not sure about the answer to a question, they can use the Life Lines. Right now, you have three different Life Lines available. After you answer question 5, a fourth Life Line will be activated. These Life Lines are made for your benefit.
Tanya (smiling): Sir, my uncle has nicknamed me Vishleshi which means analytical child. Today, I would like to show you my analysis of the KBC life Lines. I have made some graphs to show you.
Host: Please, show us Tanya’s graphs.
Tanya: My friend Tinku and I took 100 KBC contestants at random from You Tube and analyzed their use of Life Lines. The horizontal axis shows the levels of the questions and their monetary values in rupees. Graph A shows the total number of Life Lines used by the 100 players at the different levels.
Host: Interesting, the number of Life Lines used initially with the levels but surprisingly then it starts decreasing. Is this really true ?
Tanya: Sir, now see the importance of analysis. Graph B shows how the number of remaining players declines with the increasing levels. Now, the players, who have left the game, are not doing to use any Life Lines. Are they ? Therefore, instead of the total number of Life Lines used, we should consider the ratio of Life Lines used per remaining player. Graph C shows this ratio as Life Lines used per remaining players as a percentage.
Host: This ratio increases consistently till the end.
Tanya: Yes, because the difficulty of the questions keeps increasing with the increasing levels. See, how this simple analysis can change our conclusions.
Host: Tanya, with your analysis you gave the amazing conclusion that the difficulty of questions increases with the levels. It may be true but still needs to be proven.
Tanya: Sir, then see my Graph D. This graph makes it clear that the difficulty of the questions increases with the levels. You agree that difficult questions are those that only fewer people can answer. One of the Life Lines is Audience Pole. At the lower levels, 90 to 100 % of the audience was able to give the correct answers but at the high levels, this numbers came down only to 50 % or less. This proves my hypothesis on difficulty of questions.
Host: Kids these days ! Should I address you as Vishleshi or Tanya ? I did not have this much capability of analysis even after my college education. I will ask our computer experts to analyze data using all the players and then tell you the results. Now, let us start the game. I wish that you win a large sum of money today. Are you ready to play ?
Tanya: Yes Sir, I am ready to play.
Math Stories For You 