On a multiple choice test test a student is given five possible answers for each question
a. The student recieves 1 point for a correct answer and loses 1/4 point for an incorrect answer. If the student has no idea of the correct answer for a particular question and merely guesses, what is the students expected gain or loss on the question?

Question

On a multiple choice test test a student is given five possible answers for each question
a. The student recieves 1 point for a correct answer and loses 1/4 point for an incorrect answer. If the student has no idea of the correct answer for a particular question and merely guesses, what is the students expected gain or loss on the question?

anonymous · Answer

probably negative
there is one real easy way to do this

anonymous · Answer

put down every answer
you will get one right, and 4 wrong, so your score will be $1-\frac{1}{4}\times 4=0$ 
guess i was wrong

anonymous · Answer

expectation is zero

anonymous · Answer

So there is no expected gain or loss?

anonymous · Answer

@satellite73

perl · Answer

so satellites idea was to look at a particular question and fill in every bubble

perl · Answer

i think

perl · Answer

what if you can only answer one choice per question?