Q: I read this background article the other day: An optimal decision is a decision that leads to at least as good a known or expected outcome as all other available decision options. It is an important concept in decision theory. In order to compare the different decision outcomes, one commonly assigns a utility value to each of them. If there is uncertainty as to what the outcome will be, then under the von NeumannMorgenstern axioms the optimal decision maximizes the expected utility (a probabilityweighted average of utility over all possible outcomes of a decision). I am facing a new situation today: John and Keith are playing a decision making game. They have three decisions to make decision A, decision B, and decision C. Decision A and decision B have certain outcome, but decision C's outcome is uncertain. John would apply optimal decision making process while Keith would rather rely on his hunches. Using the knowledge I acquired from the background article, how should I answer correctly the following question regarding my new situation: Who would most likely fail to make decisions at least as good a known or expected outcome, John or Keith?
A: Keith
Question: I read this background article the other day: If a zone undergoes dramatic changes in temperature with depth, it contains a thermocline. The tropical thermocline is typically deeper than the thermocline at higher latitudes. Polar waters, which receive relatively little solar energy, are not stratified by temperature and generally lack a thermocline because surface water at polar latitudes are nearly as cold as water at greater depths. Below the thermocline, water is very cold, ranging from 1 C to 3 C. Because this deep and cold layer contains the bulk of ocean water, the average temperature of the world ocean is 3.9 C. I am facing a new situation today: Keith was measuring the attributes of thermoclines. He selected two locations. One is near Miami, which is in the tropic. The other is near New York, which is in higher latitude. In total, he took four samples, sample A, sample B, sample C, and sample D. From Miami thermocline he took sample A. Then from below Miami thermocline he took sample B. From New York thermocline he took sample C. Finally, from below New York thermocline he took sample D. Using the knowledge I acquired from the background article, how should I answer correctly the following question regarding my new situation: Which sample would be colder, sample C or sample D?
Answer: sample D
[Q]: I read this background article the other day: Some individuals have a specific mutation in the primary sequence of their hemoglobin molecules that causes them to aggregate, resulting in a deformation of their red blood cells. This abnormality is genetic in nature. A person may inherit the gene from one parent and have sickle cell trait (only some of the hemoglobin is hemoglobin S), which is usually not life-threatening. Inheriting the gene from both parents will result in sickle cell disease, which is a very serious condition. I am facing a new situation today: Pete and Mike were two brothers. Pete had no health problems, while Mike inherited the sickle cell trait. Mike had adjacent health problems. Using the knowledge I acquired from the background article, how should I answer correctly the following question regarding my new situation: Which brother didn't have any abnormalities that were genetic in nature?
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[A]: Pete
input: Please answer the following: I read this background article the other day: River deltas form when a river carrying sediment reaches either (1) a body of water, such as a lake, ocean, or reservoir, (2) another river that cannot remove the sediment quickly enough to stop delta formation, or (3) an inland region where the water spreads out and deposits sediments. The tidal currents also cannot be too strong, as sediment would wash out into the water body faster than the river deposits it. The river must carry enough sediment to layer into deltas over time. The river's velocity decreases rapidly, causing it to deposit the majority, if not all, of its load. This alluvium builds up to form the river delta.[7] When the flow enters the standing water, it is no longer confined to its channel and expands in width. This flow expansion results in a decrease in the flow velocity, which diminishes the ability of the flow to transport sediment. As a result, sediment drops out of the flow and deposits. Over time, this single channel builds a deltaic lobe (such as the bird's-foot of the Mississippi or Ural river deltas), pushing its mouth into the standing water. As the deltaic lobe advances, the gradient of the river channel becomes lower because the river channel is longer but has the same change in elevation (see slope). I am facing a new situation today: The Danube and Volga rivers both form large deltas, but the Danube river delta is larger and grows faster every year. Using the knowledge I acquired from the background article, how should I answer correctly the following question regarding my new situation: Which river carries fewer sediments?
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output: Volga
Please answer this: I read this background article the other day: During Amniocentesis a small amount of amniotic fluid, which contains fetal cells, is extracted from the amnion or amniotic sac surrounding a developing fetus, and the fetal DNA is examined for genetic abnormalities. Amniocentesis is not performed for every pregnancy, but is generally done when an increased risk of genetic defects in the fetus is indicated, by mother's age (over 35 years is common), family history of genetic defects, or other factors. I am facing a new situation today: David is a doctor with the city hospital. Today, he is seeing four patients, patient A, patient B, patient C, and patient D. All four patients are expectant mothers. Moreover, patient A is over thirty five years old, but patient B is under thirty five years old. Patient C has family history of genetic disorder, but patient D does not have any family history of genetic disorder. David needs to prescribe appropriate treatment according to each patient's condition. Using the knowledge I acquired from the background article, how should I answer correctly the following question regarding my new situation: Would patient A be less or more at risk of genetic defects in the fetus than patient B?
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Answer: more
Question: I read this background article the other day: When humans dig up and use fossil fuels, we have an impact on the carbon cycle ( Figure below ). This carbon is not recycled until it is used by humans. The burning of fossil fuels releases more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere than is used by photosynthesis. So, there is more carbon dioxide entering the atmosphere than is coming out of it. Carbon dioxide is known as a greenhouse gas , since it lets in light energy but does not let heat escape, much like the panes of a greenhouse. The increase of greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere is contributing to a global rise in Earth's temperature, known as global warming or global climate change. I am facing a new situation today: Xuejiang, a town in China, recently increased their levels of steel and construction materials production. The factories that produce these materials have been burning high levels of fossil fuels to support this production. Ontario, meanwhile, has been burning low levels of fossil fuels thanks to investment in alternative energies, and a general decrease in the manufacturing industries there. Using the knowledge I acquired from the background article, how should I answer correctly the following question regarding my new situation: Which area will release less carbon dioxide, Xuejiang or Ontario?
Answer:
Ontario