Just a question on maximum probability

[holymackerel]

What is the maximum probability value that a cumulative density function (cdf) can have?

 

[exk]

what is the maximum probability any event can have?

 

[holymackerel]

i assume it's infinite?

 

[HallsofIvy]

Then you need to review exactly what a "probability" is!

 

[holymackerel]

an event which represented by a real number in the range from 0 to 1... however does it apply to all applications?

 

[HallsofIvy]

First of all that is not the definition of probability: probability is not an "event"- although I am sure the definition refers to events. I've never heard of a definition that did not "apply to all applications".

And, to satisfy my curiosity, what does this have to do with differential equations?

 

[holymackerel]

for your latter question... i mistakenly posted in the wrong forum... i am new and i don't know how to delete this post and repost it in the probalbility section.

as for my initial question, i am still unclear because of the many different definitions from people and websites. i just want to make sure.

 

[exk]

Think about it this way: you can either be guaranteed that an event will take place or you can be less sure until you are guaranteed the event won't take place.

Quantify the above.

 

[HallsofIvy]

The standard definition of "probability" requires that "P(n)= probability that even n happens" be a number from 0 to 1. Thus the largest and probability can be is 1.

Sometimes probability is expressed as a percentage: 0 to 100% is, of course, 0 to 1.

Sometimes you will see "odds" as in "50 to 1 odds against" but that is not "probability". If the odds an event will happen are "a to b against" then the probability that it will happen is b/(a+b) which is always between 0 and 1.