Probability - Conditional Probability

In summary, the probability that none of the balls in the second round have ever been used is 0.04396.
  • #1
AsianMan
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0
There are 15 tennis balls in a box, of which 9 have NOT previously been used. Three of the balls are randomly chose, played with, and then RETURNED TO THE BOX. Later, another 3 balls are randomly chosen from the box. Find the probability that none of these balls has ever been used.

Seems pretty simple, right?

Attempted Solution:

Event A - 1st round balls have never been used before
Event B - 2nd round balls have never been used before

We want the probability of events A and B both occurring.

Prob(A and B) = Prob(B given A) * Prob(A)

Prob(A) = (9C3)/(15C3) = 84/455

Prob(B given A) = (6C3)/(15C3) = 20/455

Prob(A and B) = .008114962



Book says answer is .0893

EDIT: I got it now. I misunderstood the question.
 
Last edited:
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  • #2
It's asking for the probability that all 3 balls in the SECOND round have never been used. So, the correct answer is:Probability = (6C3)/(15C3) = 20/455 = .04396
 

1. What is conditional probability?

Conditional probability is the likelihood of an event occurring given that another event has already occurred. It is denoted by P(A|B), where A is the event of interest and B is the condition.

2. How is conditional probability calculated?

Conditional probability is calculated by dividing the probability of the intersection of the two events (P(A∩B)) by the probability of the condition (P(B)). This can be written as P(A|B) = P(A∩B) / P(B).

3. What is the difference between conditional probability and regular probability?

The main difference between conditional probability and regular probability is that conditional probability takes into account a specific condition (B) while regular probability considers all possible outcomes. In other words, conditional probability is the probability of an event occurring given that another event has already occurred, while regular probability is the overall probability of an event occurring.

4. What is a conditional probability tree?

A conditional probability tree is a visual representation of conditional probability. It is used to calculate the probability of multiple events occurring in a specific order or under certain conditions. The tree branches out to show all possible outcomes and their corresponding probabilities.

5. How is conditional probability used in real life?

Conditional probability is used in many fields, including statistics, finance, and science. In real life, it can be used to make predictions, assess risk, and make informed decisions based on given conditions. For example, in medicine, conditional probability can be used to calculate the likelihood of a patient having a certain disease given their symptoms and medical history.

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