Are Record Sizes Jointly Exhaustive?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the concept of jointly exhaustive events in probability theory, particularly in relation to examples involving record sizes and sample spaces. Participants explore definitions, provide examples, and clarify misunderstandings about the conditions under which events can be considered jointly exhaustive.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions the meaning of "jointly exhaustive" and provides an example with record sizes (30, 46, 70), suggesting that the presence of other numbers (like 69) means they are not jointly exhaustive.
  • Another participant offers a simple example of a light switch being ON or OFF to illustrate jointly exhaustive events, stating that one must occur.
  • Some participants discuss the definition of jointly exhaustive events, indicating that if the union of a collection of sets equals the sample space, they are jointly exhaustive, regardless of overlap.
  • Examples involving a ten-position spinner are presented, where overlapping sets can still be jointly exhaustive if at least one event occurs.
  • There is a debate about whether mutually exclusive events can also be jointly exhaustive, with some participants asserting that mutual exclusivity does not imply joint exhaustiveness.
  • Participants express confusion about the implications of overlapping sets and whether they can still be jointly exhaustive, particularly in relation to the initial record sizes example.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the definitions and implications of jointly exhaustive events, with multiple competing views and ongoing confusion about the relationship between mutual exclusivity and joint exhaustiveness.

Contextual Notes

Some participants express uncertainty about mathematical symbols and terminology, indicating a reliance on basic probability concepts. There are unresolved questions about specific examples and definitions, particularly regarding the relationship between overlapping sets and joint exhaustiveness.

flyingpig
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http://www.stat.cmu.edu/~cshalizi/36-220/lecture-4.pdf

It says that two events are jointly exhaustive if one or the other of them
must happen.

I only have had high school probability so I have no idea what all the symbols really mean, don't bother explaining that part.

But I don't understand what it means if "one or the other of them must happen"?

So if I have some Record Sizes

Record: 30, 46, 70

Would they be jointly exhaustive? Clearly being 30 means I cannot be 46 and so that is mutually exhaustive, but I could have 69 and that isn't included in the set (not math set) and so it wouldn't be jointly exhaustive
 
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Here's a simple example: a light switch that is either ON or OFF. The two events (light is on, light is off) are mutually exclusive, and jointly exhaustive - the switch must be in one of the two positions.
 
Mark44 said:
jointly exhaustive - the switch must be in one of the two positions.

What was wrong about my original question with the records?

I think (and I am) having the wrong definitions of jointly exhaustive here. I am thinking that okay, if I can come up with another item in that "concept" or genus that's not included, then it is NOT jointly exhaustive.
 
flyingpig said:
http://www.stat.cmu.edu/~cshalizi/36-220/lecture-4.pdf

It says that two events are jointly exhaustive if one or the other of them
must happen.

I only have had high school probability so I have no idea what all the symbols really mean, don't bother explaining that part.

But I don't understand what it means if "one or the other of them must happen"?

So if I have some Record Sizes

Record: 30, 46, 70

Would they be jointly exhaustive? Clearly being 30 means I cannot be 46 and so that is mutually exhaustive, but I could have 69 and that isn't included in the set (not math set) and so it wouldn't be jointly exhaustive

In mathematical lingo, the statement "one or the other must happen" means that P(A OR B) = 1 if you have two events. If you have more events you just use something like P(A OR B OR C) = 1 and so on. (This uses the definition "must happen" means "must happen with complete certainty").
 
An event A is just a subset of the sample space S. All he is saying is that if the union of a collection of sets = S they are jointly exhaustive. The sets might overlap, but if so they don't they form a partition of the sample space.

Example: S = {1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10} represents the sample space for a ten position spinner.

A = {1,2,3,4} B = {3,4,5,6} C = {5,6,7,8} D={7,8,9,10}.

These sets are jointly exhaust S because if you spin the spinner, one (at least) of the events must happen. Since they overlap two of them might happen at the same outcome.

Now consider M = {1,3,5,7,9} and N = {2,4,6,8,10}. These also exhaust S. Since they don't overlap they form a partition of S (into the evens and odds).

The sets {1,2,3} {6,7,8} {9,10} aren't jointly exhaustive since the spinner might hit 4 which isn't one of these events.
 
Last edited:
The "S" in that pdf threw me off...that's about it. I remember the phi thing means empty

EDIT: @Kurt, oh
 
Example: S = {1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10} represents the sample space for a ten position spinner.

A = {1,2,3,4} B = {3,4,5,6} C = {5,6,7,8} D={7,8,9,10}.

So if it lands on 6, then B and C happens, but not A and D. It doesn't matter that A and D happen, but at least one, B and C happened. It is jointly exhaustive?

Now consider M = {1,3,5,7,9} and N = {2,4,6,8,10}. These also exhaust S. Since they don't overlap they form a partition of S (into the evens and odds).

M and N are then (follow my logic here now) mutually exclusive, but they are not jointly exhaustive? Was that what you meant when you said "might" in? You said they exhaust S, but they have no intersection.

LCKurtz said:
An event A is just a subset of the sample space S. All he is saying is that if the union of a collection of sets = S they are jointly exhaustive. The sets might overlap, but if they don't they form a partition of the sample space.

LCKurtz said:
The sets {1,2,3} {6,7,8} {9,10} aren't jointly exhaustive since the spinner might hit 4 which isn't one of these events.


But all of those sets are mutually exclusive.

Would it be correct to draw the following conclusion?

If n events are mutually exclusive, then they could be jointly exhaustive. If n events are NOT mutually exclusive, then they can never be jointly exhaustive as in {1,2,3} {6,7,8} {9,10} in S: {1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10}
 
LCKurtz said:
An event A is just a subset of the sample space S. All he is saying is that if the union of a collection of sets = S they are jointly exhaustive. The sets might overlap, but if so they don't they form a partition of the sample space.

Example: S = {1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10} represents the sample space for a ten position spinner.

A = {1,2,3,4} B = {3,4,5,6} C = {5,6,7,8} D={7,8,9,10}.

These sets are jointly exhaust S because if you spin the spinner, one (at least) of the events must happen. Since they overlap two of them might happen at the same outcome.

Now consider M = {1,3,5,7,9} and N = {2,4,6,8,10}. These also exhaust S. Since they don't overlap they form a partition of S (into the evens and odds).

The sets {1,2,3} {6,7,8} {9,10} aren't jointly exhaustive since the spinner might hit 4 which isn't one of these events.

flyingpig said:
So if it lands on 6, then B and C happens, but not A and D. It doesn't matter that A and D happen, but at least one, B and C happened. It is jointly exhaustive?

Yes.

M and N are then (follow my logic here now) mutually exclusive, but they are not jointly exhaustive?

No. Read it again about M and N.

But all of those sets are mutually exclusive.

Would it be correct to draw the following conclusion?

If n events are mutually exclusive, then they could be jointly exhaustive.

Mutually exclusive and jointly exhaustive are different and independent concepts. Mutually exclusive says nothing about whether or not they are jointly exhaustive.
If n events are NOT mutually exclusive, then they can never be jointly exhaustive as in {1,2,3} {6,7,8} {9,10} in S: {1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10}

No. Read the examples again and see where that is answered.
 
flyingpig said:
if n events are not mutually exclusive, then they can never be jointly exhaustive as in {1,2,3} {6,7,8} {9,10} in s: {1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10}

s = {1, 2, ..., 10}

a = {1, 3, 4, ..., 10}
b = {1, 2, 4, ..., 10}
 
  • #10
Now consider M = {1,3,5,7,9} and N = {2,4,6,8,10}. These also exhaust S. Since they don't overlap they form a partition of S (into the evens and odds).

LCKurtz said:
An event A is just a subset of the sample space S. All he is saying is that if the union of a collection of sets = S they are jointly exhaustive. The sets might overlap, but if they don't they form a partition of the sample space.

Oh okay, because when you spin the spinner, it can be either odd or even in S. So M or N can happen and as in the first example since one of them could happen, it is jointly exhaustive.

"form a partition of the sample space"

I took this for English...I feel it is not. What exactly does this mean?


LCKurtz said:
No. Read the examples again and see where that is answered.

Because none of the sets would "cover" the 4.

But isn't this consistent with my Record example?

I had 30, 46, 70.

The numbers do not "intersect" at all, I could choose a 69 and 30, 46, and 70 are not (or overlap) 69. SO how could this be jointly exhaustive?
 
  • #11
pwsnafu said:
s = {1, 2, ..., 10}

a = {1, 3, 4, ..., 10}
b = {1, 2, 4, ..., 10}

Darn...
 

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