We are given a large, round table with $n$ seats. It is easy to see that whenever $p\geq \text{int}(\frac{n}{2}) + 1$ people are seated, at least $2$ people will sit next to each other (here $\text{int}(x)$ denotes the largest integer less or equal than $x$).

Given $n$ seats at a round table, let $s(n)$ be the smallest number so that the probability that at least $2$ people sit next to each other is $\geq 0.5$ when $s(n)$ people choose their places randomly. (That is: first, person number $1$ picks a seat with uniform probability, then number $2$ takes one of the remaining seats with uniform probability, etc.)

Does $\lim_{n\to \infty}\frac{s(n)}{n}$ exist, and if yes, what is its value?

(Transferred from http://stats.stackexchange.com/questions/162995/minimum-number-of-people-such-that-2-can-be-expected-to-sit-next-to-each-other as I didn't get an answer there.)

We are given a large, round table with $n$ seats. It is easy to see that whenever $p\geq \text{int}(\frac{n}{2}) + 1$ people are seated, at least $2$ people will sit next to each other (here $\text{int}(x)$ denotes the largest integer less or equal than $x$).

Given $n$ seats at a round table, let $s(n)$ be the smallest number so that the probability that at least $2$ people sit next to each other is $\geq 0.5$ when $s(n)$ people choose their places randomly. (That is: first, person number $1$ picks a seat with uniform probability, then number $2$ takes one of the remaining seats with uniform probability, etc.)

Does $\lim_{n\to \infty}\frac{s(n)}{n}$ exist, and if yes, what is its value?

(Transferred from https://stats.stackexchange.com/questions/162995/minimum-number-of-people-such-that-2-can-be-expected-to-sit-next-to-each-other as I didn't get an answer there.)

We are given a large, round table with $n$ seats. It is easy to see that whenever $p\geq \text{int}(\frac{n}{2}) + 1$ people are seated, at least $2$ people will sit next to each other (here $\text{int}(x)$ denotes the largest integer less or equal than $x$).

Given $n$ seats at a round table, let $s(n)$ be the smallest number so that the probability that at least $2$ people sit next to each other is $\geq 0.5$ when $s(n)$ people choose their places randomly. (That is: first, person number $1$ picks a seat with uniform probability, then number $2$ takes one of the remaining seats with uniform probability, etc.)

Does $\lim_{n\to \infty}\frac{s(n)}{n}$ exist, and what is its value?

(Transferred from http://stats.stackexchange.com/questions/162995/minimum-number-of-people-such-that-2-can-be-expected-to-sit-next-to-each-other as I didn't get an answer there.)

We are given a large, round table with $n$ seats. It is easy to see that whenever $p\geq \text{int}(\frac{n}{2}) + 1$ people are seated, at least $2$ people will sit next to each other (here $\text{int}(x)$ denotes the largest integer less or equal than $x$).

Given $n$ seats at a round table, let $s(n)$ be the smallest number so that the probability that at least $2$ people sit next to each other is $\geq 0.5$ when $s(n)$ people choose their places randomly. (That is: first, person number $1$ picks a seat with uniform probability, then number $2$ takes one of the remaining seats with uniform probability, etc.)

Does $\lim_{n\to \infty}\frac{s(n)}{n}$ exist, and if yes, what is its value?

(Transferred from http://stats.stackexchange.com/questions/162995/minimum-number-of-people-such-that-2-can-be-expected-to-sit-next-to-each-other as I didn't get an answer there.)