ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Gittins index

So, let's say you have a bunch of toys and you want to play with all of them. But, you only have a limited amount of time to play with them. So, you have to decide which toys to play with first and which ones to save for later.

The Gittins Index works kind of like that. It helps you figure out which activities (or toys) to work on first, based on how long each activity will take and how important each activity is.

Imagine you have a list of tasks to do, but you're not sure which one to start with. The Gittins Index helps you figure out which task will give you the biggest reward (like finishing something important), while also taking into account how long it will take to finish.

For example, let's say you have to clean your room, do your homework, and play with your favorite toy. Cleaning your room will take a long time and might not be that fun, but it's an important task. Your homework is also important, but it won't take as long. Playing with your favorite toy is the most fun activity, but it's also not that important.

The Gittins Index helps you decide which activity to do first, based on the balance of reward and time. So, it might tell you to clean your room first, then do your homework, and then reward yourself by playing with your favorite toy.

Basically, Gittins Index is like a tool that helps you make smart decisions about which tasks to do first, based on how much you'll gain from each task and how long each task will take to complete.