Probability:
Probability Experiment:
a well-defined process consisting of a number of trials in which clearly distinguishable outcomes, or possible results, are observed.
The Sample Space, S, is
is the set of all possible outcomes for an experiment.
Ex. Tossing a coin has 2 possible outcomes: heads or tails
Events are
grouped outcome(s) which are usually labelled with a capital letter.
Ex. Probability of Event A is heads, Event B is tails
Theoretical Probability uses
mathematical models to predict the likelihood of future outcomes and it is the focus of this unit. Ex. flipping a coin, rolling a die, spinning a spinner, etc.
Experimental Probability makes predictions based on a large number of
actual trials and is used most often when a mathematical model is not available and it is the focus of the simulations unit later this semester; ex. polling results, mortality tables, “life” of light bulbs
P(A):
the probability that event A will occur
P(Ā):
the probability that even A will not occur or the complement of an event.
P(Ā) = 1 - P(A)
P(A) = n(A)/n(S)
where n(A) is the number of outcomes in which Event A can occur and
n(S) is the total number of possible outcomes
Ask yourself - does
order matter? Is it a permutation or combination?
Probability using Permutations
Always divide out repetition
Ex. The letters of the word ASYMPTOTE are each placed on a card. The cards are then shuffled and placed in a row. What is the probability that the resulting arrangement:
a) Begins with s?
1 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
8!
= P(A)
= n(A)/n(S)
= 8!/2! ÷ 9!/2! - Flip to multiply
= 8!/2! X 2!/9! - Cross out the 2s
= 8!/9!
= 8!/9(8!) - cross out the 8!s
= 1/9
Ex. The letters of the word ASYMPTOTE are each placed on a card. The cards are then shuffled and placed in a row. What is the probability that the resulting arrangement:
b) Has the S and the Y apart?
Indirect
n(B) = total - SY together
= 9!/2! - 8!2!/2! - extra 2! in the denominator is for SY or YS
= 181440 - 40320
= 141120
Now you have to make it probability and divide by the total aka denominator
P(B) = 141120/181440 - 7/9
Ex. What is the probability of winning Lotto 6/49 with one ticket?
Choose 6 #’s out of 49
(49 C 6) = 13,983,816
P(win) = # of tickets purchased/13,983,816
A shipment of 12 calculators contains 3 which are defective. A customer buys 5 of the calculators. What is the probability that:
a) all 5 are working
P(A) = (9 C 5)/(12 C 5)
= 126/792
= 7/44
A shipment of 12 calculators contains 3 which are defective. A customer buys 5 of the calculators. What is the probability that:
b) 3 are working but 2 are defective, Event B:
P(B) = (9 C 3)(3 C 2)/(12 C 5)
= 252/792
= 7/22
Probability using the fundamental counting principle:
Very classic question
Ex. What is the probability that 2 or more students in our class (of 30) share the same birthday? Assume that none of you were born on February 29.
Continuing this process for the 30 students in this class:
P(Ā) = n(Ā)/n(S)
= 365 P 30/365^30
0.294 is the probability that no two students share a birthday
To find the probability that 2 or more students share a birthday you have to do: P(A) = 1 — P(Ā)
= 1 — 0.294 = 0.706
Odds is a ratio used to represent a
degree of confidence that an event will occur
Odds in Favour
P(A) : P(Ā)
h:k h/k = P(A)/P(Ā)
Odds Against
P(Ā) : P(A)
k:h k/h = P(Ā)/P(A)
When drawing from a well-shuffled deck of regular playing cards, find the odds in favour of drawing a face card
Solution:
P(A) = 12/52 = 3/13 - every card other
P(Ā) = 40/52 = 10/13
Odds in Favour =
P(A)/P(Ā) = 3/10 ÷ 10/13
Cross out 13s
= 3/10
= 3:10
Odds-Probability Formula
If the odds are in favour of A are h/k (or h:k) then the
P(A) = h/h+k
P(Ā) = k/h+k
Ex. h = 3, k = 10, 3/10 + 3 = 3/13
Ex. If the odds in favour of winning a bet are 7:6, then what is the probability that you win that bet?
P(A) = 7/7+6 = 7/13
P(Ā) = 6/13
Ex. If the probability of winning an event is 2/7 what are the odds against winning?
P(A) = 2/7 h=2
P(Ā) = 5/7 k:2
Odds in favour - 2:5
Odds against - 5:2