Choosing two numbers uniformly

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves selecting two numbers uniformly from the set {0,1,...,10} without replacement and determining the probability that their sum is less than or equal to 10, given that the smaller number is less than or equal to 5. The discussion revolves around the interpretation of the sample space and the relevant sets for calculating probabilities.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore the definitions of the sample space and the sets A and B, questioning the cardinalities and the logic behind their calculations. There is a discussion on how to visualize the problem using a grid and the implications of the conditions set by the problem.

Discussion Status

Several participants have shared their interpretations and calculations, leading to different conclusions regarding the cardinalities of sets A and B. Some have confirmed their results through programming, while others have pointed out discrepancies in reasoning and enumeration. The discussion remains open with varying perspectives on the correct approach.

Contextual Notes

Participants are grappling with the definitions of conditional probability and the implications of the conditions given in the problem. There are mentions of specific calculations that differ, highlighting potential misunderstandings in the setup or interpretation of the problem.

E'lir Kramer
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This is a solved problem and I am having a hard time working through the answer.

Question . Choose two numbers uniformly but without replacement in {0,1,...,10}. What is the probability that the sum is less than or equal to 10 given that the smallest is less than or equal to 5?

Answer.

Draw a picture of $$\Omega = \left\{ 0,1,...,10 \right\}^{2}\; \backslash \;\left\{(i,i) | i = 0,1,...,10 \right\}$$

Comment. This is easy. (Once I figured out that \ means "complement", as opposed to the last author who was using -). It's a 11x11 grid of dots with the bottom-left to top-right diagonal removed. This immediately tells me, for instance, that |\Omega| = 11*11 - 11 = 110.

The outcomes in \Omega all have the same probability. Let also

$$A = \left\{ \omega \;|\; \omega_{1} \neq \omega_{2}, \omega_{1} + \omega_{2} \leq 10 \right\} \quad B = \left\{\omega \;|\; \omega_{1} \neq \omega_{2}, \min\left\{\omega_{1}, \omega_{2}\right\} \leq 5 \right\}$$

The probability we are looking for is \frac{|A \cap B|}{|B|} = \frac{|A|}{|B|}.

Starting to get confused here. It looks like the authors are getting the left side of this equation from the definition of conditional probability; P([A|B]) = P(A \cap B)/P(B), and it just so happens that A is fully within B, so P(A \cap B) = P(A). However, in this author's usage, |X| means "the cardinality of X", and P(B) \neq |B|. However, this kind of makes sense, in a way. Since we are given that the result is in B, B can take the role of the sample space, and the number of ways to achieve the result divided by the size of the sample space does yield the probability we want. So, I'm going to accept this.

Your picture shows that |A| = 10 + 9 + 8 + ... + 1 = 55...

I don't know about the picture showing this, but reasoning does show this: if \omega_{1} = 0, there are 10 ways to be in A. If \omega_{1} = 1, 9 ways. This logic extends to the given formula .

...and that |B| = 10x5 + 4x5 = 70.

What? I'm completely stopped here. My picture doesn't show that. If I draw a vertical line at (5,0) and a horizontal line at (0,5), then dots in the top right quadrant are the only ones not in B, i.e., they are B^{c}. By manually counting I get 20 dots in B^{c}, and |B| = |\Omega| - |B^{c}| = 90.

Moreover, reasoning confirms this. B^{c} = |\left\{6,7,...,10\right\}^{2}| - |\left\{(6,6), (7,7),...,(10,10)\right\}|.



Hence the answer is 55/70.

My answer is 55/90.
 
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I get the same solution as you.

One more way to see it (with a sloppy notation, but I think it should be clear):
B is (0,anything) and (1,anything) and ... and (5,anything) and (6 to 10,0) and (6 to 10,1) and ... (6 to 10,5)
In total, 6*10+5*6=90 elements.
 
Ohh, thanks. I see his thought process now in his answer. Anyway, we are right, and I just confirmed that in Haskell. So I'll email him with the revision.

Haskell program:

Prelude> length [ (i,j) | i <- [0..10], j <- [0..10], i /= j, (i <= 5 || j <= 5)]
90
 
Funny story, but |A| is 60, not 55.

Proof by enumeration:

Prelude> length [ (i,j) | i <- [0..10], j <- [0..10], i /= j, (i + j) <= 10]
60
Prelude> *[ (i,j) | i <- [0..10], j <- [0..10], i /= j, (i + j) <= 10]
[(0,1),(0,2),(0,3),(0,4),(0,5),(0,6),(0,7),(0,8),(0,9),(0,10),(1,0),(1,2),(1,3),(1,4),(1,5),(1,6),(1,7),(1,8),(1,9),(2,0),(2,1),(2,3),(2,4),(2,5),(2,6),(2,7),(2,8),(3,0),(3,1),(3,2),(3,4),(3,5),(3,6),(3,7),(4,0),(4,1),(4,2),(4,3),(4,5),(4,6),(5,0),(5,1),(5,2),(5,3),(5,4),(6,0),(6,1),(6,2),(6,3),(6,4),(7,0),(7,1),(7,2),(7,3),(8,0),(8,1),(8,2),(9,0),(9,1),(10,0)]

The 10 + 9 + 8 + ... + 1 breaks down because when w1 ≥ 6, we don't have to subtract the pairs (6,6) ... (10,10) from our count. They are already subtracted out by virtue of being >10 anyway. Final answer is 60/90 = 2/3
 
Last edited:
Ah, good catch.
 

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