Re: [Phys-l] failure is always an option

[chuck britton <cvbritton@embarqmail.com>]

On May 6, 2008, at 5:55 PM, curtis osterhoudt wrote:

> That's always been an ill-stated threat :)  For example, if the  
> person to the right of every person drops out, then only those on  
> the left edge of a row are (possibly) safe. The matriculation rate  
> then asymptotically approaches 0% as the row lengths go to  
> infinity. On the other hand, as you say, the other extreme gives a  
> 66% matriculation rate. You can come up with scenarios where any  
> percentage between 33% and 100% drop out. Fun!
>
>              C.O.

Clearly, the Grand Canonical Ensemble of freshmen must be considered.