Another conditional probability problem

AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around a conditional probability homework problem, specifically focusing on parts (a)(iii) and (b)(ii). The original poster struggles with calculating the probability of passing a test based on the number of correct answers, initially miscalculating the probabilities involved. Feedback highlights errors in their approach, particularly in assuming fixed questions answered correctly and incorrectly, and emphasizes the need to consider any combination of correct answers. The conversation also touches on the implications of studying on passing rates for two students, questioning whether the probability changes when selecting students without replacement. Overall, participants aim to clarify the concepts and calculations related to conditional probabilities.
kenny1999
Messages
235
Reaction score
5

Homework Statement



I've spent a few hours but unable to work out the solution of the following questions successfully.

The question is as follows:
2c43ac306dac.jpg


I am having problems with (a)(iii) and (b)(ii)


Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution




(a)(iii) Although I can work out the solution at last, my original attempt was incorrect but I don't understand why.

My first attempt:
P(pass) = P(4 answer correct) + P(5 answer correct) + P(all answer correct)
= (3x3x1x1x1x1)/(6x6x6x6x6x6) + (3x1x1x1x1x1)/(6x6x6x6x6x6) + (1x1x1x1x1x1)/(6x6x6x6x6x6)

However, this is wrong. But I don't understand why...

(b)(iii) I can't work out the solution at all. Please help. Thank you.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
kenny1999 said:

Homework Statement



I've spent a few hours but unable to work out the solution of the following questions successfully.

The question is as follows:
2c43ac306dac.jpg


I am having problems with (a)(iii) and (b)(ii)


Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution




(a)(iii) Although I can work out the solution at last, my original attempt was incorrect but I don't understand why.

My first attempt:
P(pass) = P(4 answer correct) + P(5 answer correct) + P(all answer correct)
= (3x3x1x1x1x1)/(6x6x6x6x6x6) + (3x1x1x1x1x1)/(6x6x6x6x6x6) + (1x1x1x1x1x1)/(6x6x6x6x6x6)

However, this is wrong. But I don't understand why...

(b)(iii) I can't work out the solution at all. Please help. Thank you.

Your "solution" for (a)(iii) neglect the fact that ANY 4 or more questions will suffice. Your expression 3^2 * 1^4/ 6^6 (for 4 correct answers) makes several errors. First, it assumes that questions 1 and 2 are answered incorrectly, while questions 3-6 are correct; but what we need is the probability that any \42 of the 6 questions is correctly answered. Secondly, it assumes that the probability of answering a question correctly is 1/6 and of answering incorrectly is 3/6---and that makes no sense at all. So, before showing us your incorrect attempt at (iii), you should first show us your attempts at (i) and (ii), so we can see if you are on the right track.

RGV
 
Ray Vickson said:
Your "solution" for (a)(iii) neglect the fact that ANY 4 or more questions will suffice. Your expression 3^2 * 1^4/ 6^6 (for 4 correct answers) makes several errors. First, it assumes that questions 1 and 2 are answered incorrectly, while questions 3-6 are correct; but what we need is the probability that any \42 of the 6 questions is correctly answered. Secondly, it assumes that the probability of answering a question correctly is 1/6 and of answering incorrectly is 3/6---and that makes no sense at all. So, before showing us your incorrect attempt at (iii), you should first show us your attempts at (i) and (ii), so we can see if you are on the right track.

RGV

OK, here a complete work by me shown below. Thanks for your time reading.

OK, I reformat my answer.

26.

(a) (i) P(gets 0 marks) = (3/4)(3/4)(3/4)(3/4)(3/4)(3/4)

(ii) P(all correct) = (1/4)(1/4)(1/4)(1/4)(1/4)(1/4)

(iii) P(pass the test) = P(4 answered correctly) + P(5 answered correctly) + P(6 answered correctly)


P(4 answered correctly) = (1/4)(1/4)(1/4)(1/4)(3/4)(3/4)x 6C4 ... (1)

P(5 answered correctly) = (1/4)(1/4)(1/4)(1/4)(1/4)(3/4)x 6C5 ... (2)

P(6 answered correctly) = (1/4)(1/4)(1/4)(1/4)(1/4)(1/4) ... (3)

P(pass the test) = (1)+(2)+(3)
=...


Am I correct now??


(b) (i) Let P: event that a student pass
S: event that a student has studied / prepared

P(P) = P(P and S) + P(P and S')
= P(P|S)P(S) + P(P|S')P(S')
= (1)(3/4) + (ans of (a)(iii) ) x (1/4)
=...



After P(P) is evaluted, then

P(both students pass) = P(P) x P(P)
= ...

is it right??

However, there are 40 students, and two students are selected. Will the probability of pass increase or decrease when the first student is selected? Do we have to think like drawing two red balls from a set of 40 balls (for example) without replacement? The probability of drawing first red balls must be different from probability of drawing the second red balls... I am quite confused.



(b)(ii) P(S|P) = P(S and P) / P(P)
= P(P|S)P(S) / P(P)
= (1)(3/4) / P(P)
=... (1)

P(S'|P) = 1 - P(S|P)
= ... (2)

so the required probability

P(at least one of the student doesn't prepare given both pass)

= P(both don't prepare given both pass) + P(1st student prepare, 2nd student no prepare) + P(1st student no prepare, 2nd prepare)

= (ans 2) x (ans 2) + (ans 1) x (ans 2) + (ans 2) x (ans 1)




Am I right? The answer is not important to me because I am not a student. But I really need to understand the concept quick
 
Ray Vickson said:
Your "solution" for (a)(iii) neglect the fact that ANY 4 or more questions will suffice. Your expression 3^2 * 1^4/ 6^6 (for 4 correct answers) makes several errors. First, it assumes that questions 1 and 2 are answered incorrectly, while questions 3-6 are correct; but what we need is the probability that any \42 of the 6 questions is correctly answered. Secondly, it assumes that the probability of answering a question correctly is 1/6 and of answering incorrectly is 3/6---and that makes no sense at all. So, before showing us your incorrect attempt at (iii), you should first show us your attempts at (i) and (ii), so we can see if you are on the right track.

RGV

OK, here a complete work by me shown below. Thanks for your time reading.

f6f3b0a9a4d0.jpg
 
kenny1999 said:
OK, here a complete work by me shown below. Thanks for your time reading.

f6f3b0a9a4d0.jpg

This is looking a lot better; your solution to (a) looks OK, and part of your solution to (b) is good, but you don't seem to finish (b).

Let E = {both pass}, and in your group of two students, let
S0 = {0 students study}, S1 = {1 student studies}, S2 = {2 students study}.
You want P(S0 or S1|E). This is
P(S_0 \cup S_1 | E ) = \frac{ P((S_0 \cup S_1)\cap E )}{P(E)}<br /> = \frac{ P(S_0 \cap E ) + P(S_1 \cap E)}{P(E)},
because the events S0 and S1 are disjoint. Note that
P(E) = P(E|S_0 ) P(S_0) + P(E|S_1) P(S_1) + P(E|S_2) P(S_2),
and if p_a is the probability you computed in (a), then
P(E|S_0) = p_a^2, \; P(E|S_1) = 1 \cdot p_a, \; P(E|S_2) = 1,
as you said. Since you know P(S_0), \, P(S_1) \text{ and } P(S_2), you can just put it all together to answer (b).

RGV
 
Ray Vickson said:
This is looking a lot better; your solution to (a) looks OK, and part of your solution to (b) is good, but you don't seem to finish (b).

Let E = {both pass}, and in your group of two students, let
S0 = {0 students study}, S1 = {1 student studies}, S2 = {2 students study}.
You want P(S0 or S1|E). This is
P(S_0 \cup S_1 | E ) = \frac{ P((S_0 \cup S_1)\cap E )}{P(E)}<br /> = \frac{ P(S_0 \cap E ) + P(S_1 \cap E)}{P(E)},
because the events S0 and S1 are disjoint. Note that
P(E) = P(E|S_0 ) P(S_0) + P(E|S_1) P(S_1) + P(E|S_2) P(S_2),
and if p_a is the probability you computed in (a), then
P(E|S_0) = p_a^2, \; P(E|S_1) = 1 \cdot p_a, \; P(E|S_2) = 1,
as you said. Since you know P(S_0), \, P(S_1) \text{ and } P(S_2), you can just put it all together to answer (b).

RGV


Sorry any alternative method? I don't quite understand after reading carefuly
 
I picked up this problem from the Schaum's series book titled "College Mathematics" by Ayres/Schmidt. It is a solved problem in the book. But what surprised me was that the solution to this problem was given in one line without any explanation. I could, therefore, not understand how the given one-line solution was reached. The one-line solution in the book says: The equation is ##x \cos{\omega} +y \sin{\omega} - 5 = 0##, ##\omega## being the parameter. From my side, the only thing I could...
Back
Top