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Mathematics of Family Planning in Talmud

Authors :
Blatt, Simon
Freiberg, Uta
Shikhman, Vladimir
Publication Year :
2024

Abstract

Motivated by the commitments from the Talmud in Judaism, we consider the family planning rules which require a couple to get children till certain numbers of boys and girls are reached. For example, the rabbinical school of Beit Hillel says that one boy and one girl are necessary, whereas Beit Shammai urges for two boys. Surprisingly enough, although the corresponding average family sizes differ in both cases, the gender ratios remain constant. We show more that for any family planning rule the gender ratio is equal to the birth odds. The proof of this result is given by using different mathematical techniques, such as induction principle, Doob's optional-stopping theorem, and brute-force. We conclude that, despite possible asymmetries in the religiously motivated family planning rules, they discriminate neither boys nor girls.<br />Comment: Talmud, Beit Hillel, Beit Shammai, family planning, gender ratio, mathematical induction, Doob's optional-stopping theorem

Details

Database :
arXiv
Publication Type :
Report
Accession number :
edsarx.2408.09387
Document Type :
Working Paper