In American football the "third down and short" situation occurs often. The probabilities of obtaining a first down, shown below, are dependent on the choice of the offense and the anticipated choice of the defense. In such situations, what is the optimal solution for the offense?
A) always choose to run
B) always choose to pass
C) choose to run more often than pass
D) choose to pass more often than run

Question

In American football the "third down and short" situation occurs often. The probabilities of obtaining a first down, shown below, are dependent on the choice of the offense and the anticipated choice of the defense.  In such situations, what is the optimal solution for the offense? 
A) always choose to run 
B) always choose to pass 
C) choose to run more often than pass 
D) choose to pass more often than run

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The Answer of In American football the "third down and short" situation occurs often. The probabilities of obtaining a first down, shown below, are dependent on the choice of the offense and the anticipated choice of the defense.  In such situations, what is the optimal solution for the offense? 
A) always choose to run 
B) always choose to pass 
C) choose to run more often than pass 
D) choose to pass more often than run

In American Football the "Third Down and Short" Situation Occurs