Conditional probability problem

AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on calculating probabilities related to voting behavior for a political block, specifically using binomial probability formulas. Participants clarify that the probability of exactly five people voting for block A can be calculated using the binomial coefficient formula, resulting in approximately 0.23. The conversation highlights the misconception that the probability of no votes is simply the complement of five votes, emphasizing that it actually represents the probability of any number of votes except five. The correct approach for calculating the probability of no votes is confirmed, and the use of Excel's binomial distribution function is suggested for ease of calculation. Overall, the thread emphasizes understanding the distinction between specific probabilities and complements in binomial distributions.
MathMan2022
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Homework Statement
45% of the population is said to for a certain political block A at an election. 10 people are sampled.

a) Whats the prob that 5 of them vote block A?

b) What the prob that none of them vote block A?
Relevant Equations
P(A and B) = P(A) * P(B)
P(Not B) = 1 - P(B)
A) P(A and B) = 0.45 * 5/10
B P(Not B) = 1 - ( 0.45 * 5/10)

Is it like this?
 
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MathMan2022 said:
Homework Statement:: 45% of the population is said to for a certain political block A at an election. 10 people are sampled.

a) Whats the prob that 5 of them vote block A?

b) What the prob that none of them vote block A?
Relevant Equations:: P(A and B) = P(A) * P(B)
P(Not B) = 1 - P(B)

A) P(A and B) = 0.45 * 5/10
B P(Not B) = 1 - ( 0.45 * 5/10)

Is it like this?
It's nothing like that. What have you learned about probability theory so far? Have you heard the term binomial coefficients?
 
PeroK said:
It's nothing like that. What have you learned about probability theory so far? Have you heard the term binomial coefficients?
Oh its like that? Yes I have heard of that.

P(X = r) = K(n,r)*p^r*(1-p)^(n-r) right?
 
So
a) P(X = 5) = K(10, 5)*0.45^5*(1 - 0.45)^(10 - 5)= 0.23
b) P(X = no votes) = 1- P(X=5) = 1-0.23
 
MathMan2022 said:
So
a) P(X = 5) = K(10, 5)*0.45^5*(1 - 0.45)^(10 - 5)= 0.23
That looks a lot better.
MathMan2022 said:
b) P(X = no votes) = 1- P(X=5) = 1-0.23
Why would no votes be the complement of 5 votes? That's the probability of any number of votes except 5.
 
If 45% is sampled to vote for block A. Then 55 % must non voters for block A?
 
MathMan2022 said:
If 45% is sampled to vote for block A. Then 55 % must non voters for block A?
No, it means that 55% don't vote for block A.
 
MathMan2022 said:
If 45% is sampled to vote for block A. Then 55 % must non voters for block A?
Look at it this way, suppose you change part a) to calculate ##P(X = 4)##. Would your answer to part b) change to ##P(X = 0) = 1 - P(X = 4)##?
 
PeroK said:
Look at it this way, suppose you change part a) to calculate ##P(X = 4)##. Would your answer to part b) change to ##1 - P(X = 4)##?
That would that is the prob that 4 people or less voted for block A?
 
  • #10
MathMan2022 said:
That would that is the prob that 4 people or less voted for block A?
No, that would be the probablity that 0, 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10 people vote for block A. Any number but ##4##. Note that we have:
$$\sum_{n = 0}^{10} P(X = n) = 1$$
 
  • #11
PeroK said:
No, that would be the probablity that 0, 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10 people vote for block A. Any number but ##4##. Note that we have:
$$\sum_{n = 0}^{10} P(X = n) = 1$$
Then that would be P(X=0) I am searching for? Because that would be the prob that non of the 10 voted for block A.
 
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  • #12
MathMan2022 said:
Then that would be P(X=0) I am searching for? Because that would be the prob that non of the 10 voted for block A.
Yes, exactly.
 
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  • #13
Here's a tip. The Excel spreadsheet has a binomial distribution function (and other useful statistical things). For example, if you type:

=BINOMDIST(5, 10, 0.45, FALSE)

Then, you'll get the answer ##0.23##.

See the Excel help pages for more information.
 
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  • #14
You can do the exact same thing for 0 people that you did for 5 people.
 
  • #15
This is not conditional probability. It's plain ordinary probability.
 
  • #16
Although you don’t need binomial for zero, it’s analogous to flipping heads ten times in a row (as there is only one combination)
 
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