Can You Solve These Intriguing Probability Puzzles?

  • Thread starter Thread starter rayukpant
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Probability
AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around four probability puzzles, each requiring analytical thinking and calculations. The first puzzle involves determining the probability of finding two adjacent unoccupied parking spaces among ten when seven are already occupied. The second puzzle focuses on calculating the probability that player Y hits a target before player X, given their respective hit probabilities. The third puzzle asks for the arrangements of the word "MISSISSIPPI," specifically how many ways the letters can be arranged with the condition that the two P's are separated. The final puzzle examines the probability of selecting a ball from box P after a box is chosen based on the likelihood of selecting red balls. Participants are reminded to show effort in their problem-solving approach.
rayukpant
Messages
4
Reaction score
0
1. There are 10 adjacent parking places in the parking lot. When you arrive in your new Chevrolet , there are already 7 cars in the lot. What is the probability that you can find two adjacent unoccupied spaces for your Chevrolet?
2. Two persons X and Y take turns as follows for shooting at a target :X,Y,X,Y,X,……….etc. The probability that X hits the target every time he takes a shot is 2/5 and the probability that Y hits is ¼. The probability that Y hits the target before X is p/q. Determine the values of p and q.
3. In how many ways the word MISSISSIPPI be arranged ? In how many ways can they be arranged if the two P's must be separated?(only the solution for second part is needed )
4. Box P has 2 red balls and 3 blue balls while box Q has 3 red balls and 1 blue ball. A ball is selected as follows :(i) select a box (ii) choose a ball from the selected box such that each ball in the box is equally likely to be chosen. The probabilities of the boxes P and Q being selected in the process is red, what is the probability that it came from box P?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
You need to show some level of effort. What have you tried for each problem?
 
rayukpant said:
1. There are 10 adjacent parking places in the parking lot. When you arrive in your new Chevrolet , there are already 7 cars in the lot. What is the probability that you can find two adjacent unoccupied spaces for your Chevrolet?
2. Two persons X and Y take turns as follows for shooting at a target :X,Y,X,Y,X,……….etc. The probability that X hits the target every time he takes a shot is 2/5 and the probability that Y hits is ¼. The probability that Y hits the target before X is p/q. Determine the values of p and q.
3. In how many ways the word MISSISSIPPI be arranged ? In how many ways can they be arranged if the two P's must be separated?(only the solution for second part is needed )
4. Box P has 2 red balls and 3 blue balls while box Q has 3 red balls and 1 blue ball. A ball is selected as follows :(i) select a box (ii) choose a ball from the selected box such that each ball in the box is equally likely to be chosen. The probabilities of the boxes P and Q being selected in the process is red, what is the probability that it came from box P?

Have you read the rules for this forum? We don't do homework, and you are required to show some effort.

RGV
 
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