Probability of Pairings in Chess Game

In summary, the probability that Rebecca and Elise will be paired in the chess game is 1/14, the probability that they will not play each other but will be chosen to represent their schools is 3/14, and the probability that exactly one of them will be chosen to represent her school is 1/2.
  • #1
e(ho0n3
1,357
0
[SOLVED] Probability of Pairings in Chess Game

Homework Statement


The chess clubs of two schools consist of, respectively, 8 and 9 players. Four members from each club are randomly chosen to participate in a contest between the two schools. The chosen players from one team are then randomly paired with those from the other team, and each pairing plays a game of chess. Suppose that Rebecca and her sister Elise are on the chess clubs at different schools. What is the probability that

(a) Rebecca and Elise will be paired;
(b) Rebecca and Elise will be chosen to represent their schools but will not play each other;
(c) exactly one of Rebecca and Elise will be chosen to represent her school?


Homework Equations


Axioms and basic theorems of probabilitiy.


The Attempt at a Solution


(a) Assuming each possible team is equally likely and each possible pairing is equally likely, the the probability sought is the ratio of the number of possible teams and pairing in which Rebacca and Elise are paired to the total possible number of teams and pairings which should be

[tex]\frac{\binom{7}{3}\binom{8}{3}3!}{\binom{8}{4}\binom{9}{4}4!} = \frac{1}{14}[/tex]

The book says the answer is 1/18 however.

(b) That should be

[tex]\frac{\binom{7}{3}\binom{8}{3}3 \cdot 3!}{\binom{8}{4}\binom{9}{4}4!} = \frac{3}{14}[/tex]

The book says the answer is 3/18 however.

(c) That should be

[tex]\frac{\binom{7}{3}\binom{8}{4}4! + \binom{7}{4}\binom{8}{3}4!}{\binom{8}{4}\binom{9}{4}4!} = \frac{1}{2}[/tex]

The book has the same answer.

My gripe is with (a) and (b). Is the book right or am I right?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #2
The book is right. You may be overcomplicating things. The probability R is chosen is 4/8, that E is chosen is 4/9. Once chosen, the odds they will play each other is 1/4. What's the probability of all of those things happening? Change it for the case of 'not play'.
 
  • #3
BTW. Your counting expressions are also correct. Just the final numbers are wrong.
 
  • #4
Dick said:
The book is right. You may be overcomplicating things. The probability R is chosen is 4/8, that E is chosen is 4/9. Once chosen, the odds they will play each other is 1/4. What's the probability of all of those things happening? Change it for the case of 'not play'.

Yes, I do tend to overcomplicate things. You seem to have a very good intuition for this kind of thing.

I realized where I made the stupid arithmetical mistake. Thanks.
 

1. What is the probability of a certain piece being paired with another specific piece in a chess game?

The probability of a specific piece being paired with another specific piece in a chess game depends on the number of possible moves for each piece and the number of possible positions on the board. For example, the probability of a knight being paired with a bishop on a 8x8 chess board is roughly 0.085 (6 possible moves for the knight and 7 possible positions for the bishop).

2. Does the color of the pieces affect the probability of pairings in a chess game?

No, the color of the pieces does not affect the probability of pairings in a chess game. The probability is based on the number of possible moves and positions for each piece, which remains the same regardless of color.

3. How does the probability of pairings change throughout the course of a chess game?

The probability of pairings can change throughout the course of a chess game as pieces are captured and the number of possible moves and positions changes. For example, the probability of a knight being paired with a bishop may decrease as more pieces are captured and the board becomes more crowded.

4. Can the probability of pairings in a chess game be calculated mathematically?

Yes, the probability of pairings in a chess game can be calculated using mathematical formulas that take into account the number of possible moves and positions for each piece. However, these calculations can become quite complex and are not always necessary for understanding the game.

5. Is the probability of pairings in a chess game affected by player skill?

The probability of pairings in a chess game is not directly affected by player skill. However, skilled players may make moves that increase or decrease the probability of certain pairings based on their strategic decisions. Additionally, player skill may indirectly affect the probability of pairings by influencing the number of possible moves and positions for each piece.

Similar threads

  • Set Theory, Logic, Probability, Statistics
Replies
9
Views
1K
  • Set Theory, Logic, Probability, Statistics
Replies
1
Views
834
  • Set Theory, Logic, Probability, Statistics
Replies
7
Views
1K
  • Set Theory, Logic, Probability, Statistics
Replies
5
Views
1K
  • Calculus and Beyond Homework Help
Replies
3
Views
738
  • Calculus and Beyond Homework Help
Replies
3
Views
4K
Replies
29
Views
3K
  • Calculus and Beyond Homework Help
Replies
31
Views
3K
  • Calculus and Beyond Homework Help
Replies
6
Views
1K
  • Precalculus Mathematics Homework Help
Replies
11
Views
734
Back
Top