Rules and Gameplay
Two contestants attempt to predict the results of polls in a best-of-five elimination round. A question is read (e.g. What percentage of Americans said they are afraid of circus clowns?) and the two contestants are given ten seconds to lock in their guess using a dial to select a percentage. If a contestant has not locked in their guess after ten seconds, the computer locks in the percentage the on which the contestant had currently rested. The player who comes closest to the actual percentage earns a point. The first player to earn three points advances to the money round to play for the top prize.
In the money round, the contestant is given similar questions, and places a range on a scale from 0% to 100% that they believe includes the correct answer. The size of the range decreases as cash awards increase:
| Question # | Question Value | Percentage Range/Margin of Error |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1,000 | 40% |
| 2 | $10,000 | 30% |
| 3 | $100,000 | 20% |
| 4 | $1,000,000 | 10% |
| 5 | $10,000,000 | Exact/Dead on (see below) |
For the first three questions, the correct answer to the question is revealed once the contestant locks in an answer by pulling down a handle or lever. For the $1,000,000 question, the correct answer is only revealed if the actual percentage is outside of the contestant's range. If the contestant correctly answers the $1,000,000 question, they are then given the chance to win $10,000,000 by picking the exact percentage (rounded to the nearest 1%) out of that 10% range.
Missing a question ends the game. Contestants who miss either the $1,000 or $10,000 question leave empty-handed. From the $100,000 question onward, missing a question decreases the contestant's winnings by the power of 10, meaning that he/she leaves with 10% of the money accumulated to that point.
For each question, audience members make exact-percentage guesses in order to show the contestant a full sample of the results for help in answering. Contestants can also ask an in-studio relative or friend their opinion before locking in, and contestants can adjust their choice if necessary to elicit reactions from the audience or their friend/relative. Contestants can stop the game and take the money that they currently have until locking in an answer.
The host is not made aware of the answers prior to the reveal and sometimes helps contestants think through questions and offered their own opinions, unlike most game shows.
Read more about this topic: Power Of 10
Famous quotes containing the words rules and and/or rules:
“Serious sport has nothing to do with fair play. It is bound up with hatred, jealousy, boastfulness, disregard of all rules and sadistic pleasure in witnessing violence: in other words it is war minus the shooting.
”
—George Orwell (1903–1950)
“This was Pharaoh, direct descendent of our deity Amon, god of the sun, who rules the heavens as Pharaoh rules the earth. Again, he brought treasure, gold, and precious jewels taken from our enemies. For to Pharaoh riches were power and power was to be desired. And also again he brought many captives. For is it not by slaves that one becomes even richer and then has even more power?”
—William Faulkner (1897–1962)