Each path has an equal chance of occurring and if B or D are chosen they will just add 8 or 2 minutes to the time because the rat must restart the maze: time = (1/4)*5 + (1/4)*(8 + time) + (1/4)*(3) + (1/4)*(2 + time). Time = 9 minutes.
A rat is placed at the beginning of a maze and must make it to the end. There are four paths at the start that he has an equal chance of taking: path A takes 5 minutes and leads to the end, path B takes 8 minutes and leads to the start, path C takes 3 minutes and leads to the end, and path D takes 2 minutes and leads to the start.
What is the expected amount of time it will take for the rat to finish the maze?
Options:
5min
6min
7min
8min
9min