Monday, 2 March 2020

Probability of Combined Events

 Probability with Different type of events

Mutually Exclusive

~ cannot happen at the same time


Using (Venn) diagram to represent:


Example

Tossing a coin, Head and Tail are mutually exclusive because the outcome of having a head and tail cannot happen at the same time.


Example

There are 5 blue balls , 3 red balls and 2 yellow balls. What is the probability that either a blue ball of yellow ball is picked?

    [either… or… => both events to be added]

Picking a blue ball or a yellow ball = 5 + 2     [Step 1 : Positive happening]

Total outcome = 5 + 3 + 2 = 10                      [Step 2 : Total outcome]

      Probability = 7/10                                     [Step 3 : Calculate ]


            ==> Probability for mutually exclusive event 

                           P(A or B) = P(A) + P(B)


Alternative solution

     Prob of picking blue ball = 5/10

     Prob of yellow ball = 2/10

     Probability = 2/10 + 5/10 = 7/10


Example (with percent)

[At times, percent is used to represent probability. 17% => 17/100 probability]


In a lucky draw, 10% of the prizes are $5 voucher, 15% are $2 voucher and the rest are $1 voucher.

  1. What is the probability of getting either a $5 voucher or a $2 voucher?

       Probability = 10/100 + 15/100

                         = 25/100 

                         = 1/4

(2) What is the probability of getting $1 voucher?

      $1 voucher (Not getting $5 or $2) = 100% - 10% - 15% 

                                                            =  75%

      Probability = 75/100 = 3/4


Not Mutually Exclusive

~ can happen at the same time


Using (Venn) diagram to represent:


Example

Out of 32 students, 20 students play basketball and 12 students play tennis. There are 4 students who play both tennis and basketball. 

[4 students playing both basketball and tennis make the event not mutually exclusive]


Using (Venn) diagram to represent the event


             Probability of non-exclusive event:

             P(A or B) = P(A) + P(B) - P(A and B)


(1) What is the probability of a student playing basketball only?

         Playing basketball only = 20 - 4 = 16

         

         Probability of playing basketball only = 16/32 = 12


(2) What is the probability of a student playing either tennis or basketball?

       Prob of student playing either tennis or basketball = 20/32 + 12/32 - 4/32

 = 28/32 

 = 7/8

Independent event

Each event is not affected by other events.

Two dices were thrown. The outcome of each dice does not affect the other dice.


When both event A and B are independent, the probability of both occurring is 


  Probability of independent event : P (A and B) = P(A) x P(B)


Example

A classroom has two fans. The probability that a fan is not working is 0.05.


(2) What is the probability of both fans are working?

    <Step 1: Type of events? Independent because working of both fans are not related>

                 Probability of a fan not working = 0.5 

                 Probability of a fan working = 1 - 0.5 = 0.95 [probability of positive / happening]

                 Probability of both fans working = 0.95 x 0.95

                                                                    = 0.9025

(2) What is the probability that both fans are not working

<step 1 : type of event? Independent - P(A) x P(B) >

           Prob a fan not working = 0.5 [step 2 : prob of happening]

           Prob of both fans not working = 0.5 x 0.5  [Step 3 : Calculate]

       = 0.25


(3) What is the probability either one is not working?

      <Step 1 : Type of events : Independent >

      Probability of either one is not working [Step 2 : No of events and probability]

            = fan A working x fan B not working + fan A not working x Fan B working

            = 0.95 x 0.05 + 0.05 x 0.95

            = 0.095


Dependent event (conditional)

~ affected by the other event.


Example

There are five blue balls and one red balls in a basket. If a red ball is taken out of the basket, then the second time a ball is to be drawn there is no chance to throw another red ball. 

=> the first event affects the outcome of the second event. 


Example

There are 5 blue balls and 7 red balls. What is the probability of drawing a red ball after a blue ball has been drawn?


The probability of drawing a red ball depends on the first probability of drawing the blue ball. => Dependent probability [step 1]

     Prob of first blue ball = 5/12 [step 2a : Find first prob]

     Prob of 2nd red ball   = 7/11 [step 2b : Find 2nd prob with 11 balls left]

     Prob of blue ball, then red ball = 5/12 x 7/11 [step 3 : Compute]

      = 0.2651

Complementary Event

The event occurs outside “outside” the outcome.


Example

30% of the students in a swimming class is between 7-10 years old. If a student is picked at random, what is the probability that the student is younger than 7 years old or older than 10 years old?

   30% = 30/100 = 3/10

   P (age not between 7 - 10) = 1 - 3/10

               = 7/10

Using (Venn) diagram


“At least one” Event

~ happens at least once in multiple events


Example

A dice is rolled 3 times. What is the probability of getting at least one 4?


At least once => can be all 3 times, 2 times, 1 time


Thus, at least once is computed by computing not happen at all, and then subtract from the total event.


P (not 4) = 5/6

P (not 4) for 5 times = 5/6 x 5/6 x 5/6 

P (at least once) = 1 - P(not 4)3

    = 1 - (5/6)3

    = 0.4212


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