The Ultimate Price is Right Strategy Guide: Line 'em Up

Line 'em Up

Rules

A car is shown as are three smaller prizes. The first and last digits of the car's price are given. The second digit of the car is one of the three digits of the price of the first prize, the third digit of the car is one of the two digits of the price of the second prize, and the fourth digit of the car is one of the three digits of the price of the fourth prize. The contestant must choose what they think the price of the car is. If they are right, they win the car and the prizes; if they are wrong, they are told how many of the middle three digits they got correct. They then make changes. If they are right about the car at that point, they win the car and the three prizes; if not, the game ends and they lose.

Random fact

They have never used a car in this game that has cost $20,000 or more. (Edit: Flerbert419 at golden-road.net pointed out they did use a $20,000+ car in this game on the 2/10/10 episode. So it's quite rare for them to use a $20,000+ car in this game but not unheard of.)

Win-loss record

• Actual (seasons 29-46): 90-114 (44.33%)
• What it would be by random chance: 2/9 (22.22%)

For each prize, which digit was correct? (seasons 40-46)

First prize (second car digit):

• 1st digit was correct: 34 playings (35.79%)
• 2nd digit was correct: 29 playings (30.53%)
• 3rd digit was correct: 32 playings (33.68%)
• Smallest digit was correct: 15 playings (15.79%)
• 2nd smallest digit was correct: 39 playings (41.05%)
• Largest digit was correct: 41 playings (43.16%)

Second prize (third car digit):

• 1st digit was correct: 47 playings (49.47%)
• 2nd digit was correct: 48 playings (50.53%)
• Smaller digit was correct: 57 playings (60.00%)
• Larger digit was correct: 38 playings (40.00%)

Third prize (fourth car digit):

• 1st digit was correct: 26 playings (27.37%)
• 2nd digit was correct: 42 playings (44.21%)
• 3rd digit was correct: 27 playings (28.42%)
• Smallest digit was correct: 31 playings (32.63%)
• 2nd smallest digit was correct: 36 playings (37.89%)
• Largest digit was correct: 28 playings (29.47%)

Strategy

Mostly know the price, though you can get some clues from the above trends. For the second digit of the car, it's uncommon for the smallest digit in the corresponding prize's price to be correct; for example, if that prize is $675, it's uncommon for 5 to be the correct digit. For the third digit, it's usually the smaller option, and for the fourth digit, the second digit is correct more frequently than the other two digits. So that would make a good first guess if you're clueless. Also, remember you're more likely to have the middle digit right than the second or fourth digit simply because there are only two digits to choose from. So if you have two correct, it's a good bet the middle digit is one of the two--by random chance, given that you have two correct, you have an 80% chance of having the middle digit and one other correct but only a 20% chance of having the first and third digits correct.

Also, don't forget about the "consecutive digits besides the first two don't repeat" rule. Just be a little careful--there was exactly one playing in every season from season 43-46 inclusive that broke that rule. However, no playings in season 47 broke that rule.