Suppose a drunk leaves the bar and staggers around one-foot long steps to the right and to the left at random. Is it more likely that the drunk will be close to the bar or far way ? Why?

Question

aaronq · Answer

Neither, if it's random then the probability for each event (stepping to the right or stepping to the left) is equal (1/2), which should average the displacement of the drunk at zero from the starting point.

anonymous · Answer

so what will you predict the drunk's average distance from the bar will be after he has taken many steps?

aaronq · Answer

it will be as he started, zero displacement