Hypergeometric distribution with different distributions

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the application of the hypergeometric distribution in a scenario involving drawing marbles of different colors from an urn. Participants explore how to adapt this distribution when the green marbles are subject to a different statistical distribution, such as exponential, and the implications of this on calculating probabilities and expected values.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests using the hypergeometric distribution for calculating the probability of drawing a specific number of green marbles from an urn.
  • Another participant questions the relevance of expected value in this context, asking for clarification on what the expected value would represent if the marbles are identical.
  • A participant emphasizes that the standard probability of drawing a green marble is based on the ratio of green to total marbles, but acknowledges that variations in the marbles' properties could alter this probability.
  • There is a proposal to calculate the expected value of green marbles and use that in the hypergeometric distribution, although the feasibility of this approach is questioned.
  • Another participant raises the possibility of sampling from the distribution of green marbles for each selection, seeking clarity on the correct method for addressing the problem.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the applicability of the hypergeometric distribution when the green marbles are distributed according to a different statistical model. There is no consensus on the best approach to calculate probabilities or expected values in this modified scenario.

Contextual Notes

The discussion highlights the complexities involved in changing the assumptions of the hypergeometric distribution, particularly regarding the properties of the marbles and how they affect the probabilities of drawing them. Specific mathematical steps and definitions remain unresolved.

Hex5f
Messages
3
Reaction score
0
Hello,
For this type of question:

There are 5 green and 45 red marbles in the urn. Standing next to the urn, you close your eyes and draw 10 marbles without replacement. What is the probability that exactly 4 of the 10 are green?

I understand that I can use Hypergeometric distribution, which takes into account the changing probability of the balls after each draw. But how can answer the same question when the green balls are distributed with some distribution (exponential for example) ?
I've been thinking that I may calculate the expected value of the green marbles and then calculate this as before when the population of the green marbles is the expected value. Would it be correct ?

Thanks
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Your original situation is about a probability. But in the end you seem to be asking about an expected value, which is not the same question. What is it an expected value of? For instance, does each ball have a real number written on it, randomly drawn from some distribution? The distinction between red and green marbles will be irrelevant unless they have different distributions for the numbers written on them.
 
Are you saying that if all marbles are identical among each group it does not matter how each group distributes ?
 
Hex5f said:
Are you saying that if all marbles are identical among each group it does not matter how each group distributes ?
I don't know what you mean by 'how each group distributes'. Perhaps you mean the way of determining the probability that the next drawn marble will be green, given that there remain g green and r red marbles in the urn.

The standard assumption is that that probability is g/(g+r), because that's the simplest situation and seems to match most real-life urn-drawing activities.

But there could be ways of changing that probability, for instance by making the green ones heavier so they are more likely to be at the bottom of the urn, or making them sticky, or some other disturbance of the system. In that case the probability would no longer be g/(g+r) and the hypergeometric distribution would not longer be applicable. A new distribution would need to be worked out based on the specifics of what the new probability of drawing a green marble was.
 
andrewkirk said:
But there could be ways of changing that probability, for instance by making the green ones heavier so they are more likely to be at the bottom of the urn, or making them sticky, or some other disturbance of the system. In that case the probability would no longer be g/(g+r) and the hypergeometric distribution would not longer be applicable. A new distribution would need to be worked out based on the specifics of what the new probability of drawing a green marble was.

That's exactly what I'm trying to calculate. So, would it be correct to calculate the expected value of green balls, I mean the expectation of the number of green balls ones find when drawing a handful of marbles and then use this value as the total amount of green balls in hypergeometric distribution calculation ?

Else, would it be correct sampling from the distribution of green marbles for each selection of a green marble ?

If not, what is the correct direction for calculating this ?

Thank you
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
Replies
2
Views
3K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
3K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 24 ·
Replies
24
Views
4K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
3K