Class and student probability question

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a probability problem involving two students, A and B, who attend classes independently with different probabilities. The question focuses on determining the probability that student A attended class given that exactly one student arrived.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore the application of Bayes' theorem and question the formulation of the probability expressions used. There is discussion about the correct interpretation of conditional probabilities and the factors involved in the calculations.

Discussion Status

The discussion is active, with participants questioning the steps taken in the calculations and the reasoning behind the inclusion of certain probabilities. Some participants suggest alternative formulations and clarify the definitions of the probabilities involved.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working under the assumption that the probabilities of attendance are independent and are discussing the implications of this independence on the calculations. There is also a reference to external resources for clarification on probability theory.

Dell
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student A comes to 80% of the classes while student B comes to 60%, (A,B are independent of one another), on a given day exactly one student arrived, what is the probability that it was student A


P(A)=0.8
P(B)=0.6

P([tex]\bar{A}[/tex])*P(B)=0.12
P([tex]\bar{B}[/tex])*P(A)=0.32

C=> only one student arrived
P(C)=P([tex]\bar{A}[/tex])*P(B) +P([tex]\bar{B}[/tex])*P(A)=0.12 + 0.32 =0.44
P(C/A)=P([tex]\bar{B}[/tex])*P(A)=0.32

P(A/C)=[tex]\frac{P(A)*P(C/A)}{P(C)}[/tex]=[tex]\frac{0.8*0.32}{0.44}[/tex]=0.58

this is wrong the correct answer is meant to be 0.73, any help??
 
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Why isn't it just P(A)*P(not B)/(P(A)*P(not B)+P(B)*P(not A))? Why the extra P(A) factor?
 


apparently it is, but i know P(A/C) is the probability of A if i know that C has occurred, and i thought that that was what i needed to use here
 


The numerator is P(A|C). So the whole answer is P(A|C)/P(C). I'm questioning where the extra P(A) came from?
 


Ok, if you want to do it that way, then P(C|A) is the probability that A is there and B is not there divided by probability that A is there. That's 0.32/0.8. You are drawing a Venn type diagram of this, right?
 


If you know A arrived, the probability that only one student arrived is the probability that B didn't, so P(C|A)=P(not B).
 

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