Use the table below to answer the following questions.
Table 15.2.1

-Refer to Table 15.2.1. This table includes the sentences that Bob and Joe will receive if convicted. They have been apprehended by the police under the suspicion of committing armed robbery. The two are immediately separated and questioned about the case. Which one of the following observations is correct?
A)Bob would be smart to confess no matter what Joe does.
B)Joe would be smart not to confess no matter what Bob does.
C)Both Bob and Joe would be better off not confessing if they both do not confess.
D)Both Bob and Joe would be better off "coming clean" and confessing to their crime.
E)Both Bob and Joe have a dominant strategy of not confessing.

Question

Use the table below to answer the following questions.
Table 15.2.1
 
-Refer to Table 15.2.1. This table includes the sentences that Bob and Joe will receive if convicted. They have been apprehended by the police under the suspicion of committing armed robbery. The two are immediately separated and questioned about the case. Which one of the following observations is correct?
A)Bob would be smart to confess no matter what Joe does. 
B)Joe would be smart not to confess no matter what Bob does. 
C)Both Bob and Joe would be better off not confessing if they both do not confess. 
D)Both Bob and Joe would be better off "coming clean" and confessing to their crime. 
E)Both Bob and Joe have a dominant strategy of not confessing.

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Looking at the table, we can see that the best outcome for both Bob and Joe is for neither of them to confess (row 4, column 4). If they both confess (row 1, column 1), they both receive high sentences. If one confesses and the other doesn't, the confessor gets a lesser sentence (row 1 or 3) while the non-confessor gets a high sentence (column 1 or 3). Therefore, the best choice for both Bob and Joe is to not confess, regardless of what the other person does. This choice leads to the lowest combined sentence for both of them.

Use the Table Below to Answer the Following Questions