Question

One thousand adults live in Milltown. Every day, they all leave work at 4:30 p.m., arrive home at exactly 5:00 p.m., and go to bed at 9:00 p.m. Three fundraisers, Alpha, Beta, and Charlie, have targeted Milltown's population. To get a donation, they must call Milltown's residents after they get home from work but before they go to bed. Because the charities raising the funds are identical, the first to call a willing donor will get the donation. Beta's manager has decided that the best time to call is 7:00 p.m. because it is exactly halfway between 5:00 p.m. and bedtime. Which of the following is true?
a. Alpha and Charlie will also make calls at 7:00 p.m.
b. Beta's manager did not choose wisely.
c. Alpha and Charlie will divide up the rest of the market, with one choosing to call at 6:00 p.m. and the other at 8:00 p.m.
d. Beta is certain to generate the most donations.

Answer 1

Answer:

b. Beta's manager did not choose wisely.

Explanation:

If you know that you are competing with identical charities, calling later will only result in fewer donations. The calls should start at 5 PM, and probably the three fundraisers will start calling at the same time. The only advantage that they can have depends on reaching the adults first, so the time of the calls is important.