How do i solve this possibility question

  • Thread starter Thread starter Dell
  • Start date Start date
Join the discussion
Registration is free. Ask a follow-up in this thread, or start your own.
5 replies · 2K views
Dell
Messages
555
Reaction score
0
how do i solve this possibility question

a scientist does 2 experiments, whose outcomes are independent of each other.

the possibility of a positive result in experiment A is 0.9
the possibility of a positive result in experiment B is 0.7

what is the possibility of a positive outcome in at least one of the experiments?

what i think i am looking for is P(A∪B) since i want either P(A) or P(B) or P(A∩B)

the problem is that i don't have enough information,
the answer is 0.97, which is P(A)+P(B)-P(A)*P(B), but how do i get to this, am i wrong in saying that i am looking for P(A∪B) ? which equation can i use to find this answer?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
What is the possibility neither experiment has a positive outcome?

How does this help you answer the question?
 
no not really, how can i find that possibility, i know that it is 1-P(A∪B), but how does that help
 
What is the probability of a negative result for each experiment? Then remember that the experiments are independent, so what is the probability that both A is negative and B is negative in terms of each individual probability
 
A negative - 0.1
B negative - 0.3

but from here what do i do, can i say that since they are independent P(A∪B)=P(A)+P(B), but that comes to more than 1,
i see what you are saying, for the negative reult 0.1*0.3, but what rule is this??
 
Assuming A and B are independent, [itex]P(A\cap B)[/itex]= P(A and B)= P(A)P(B).

[itex]P(A\cup B)[/itex]= P(A or B)= P(A)+ P(B)- [itex]P(A \cap B)[/itex]
and that is P(A)+ P(B) only if [itex]P(A \cap B)= 0[/itex] (A and B are mutually exclusive) which can't be true if they are independent.