Homework Help: Log/matrix/calc/algebra/probability/retarded question.

1. Mar 4, 2007

morson

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

In the picture.

2. Relevant equations

3. The attempt at a solution

This is a really strange question. It's an extended-response exercise. I don't think it'd look pretty using the TeX thing, so I drew it in Paint. It combines all the topics we've done so far. Row 1 is easy. Row 2, column 1, I have no clue how to do. I'm not sure about the straight lines on the log in the bottom right, either.

http://img260.imageshack.us/img260/9584/blahgm8.png [Broken]

Last edited by a moderator: May 2, 2017
2. Mar 4, 2007

cristo

Staff Emeritus
In A22, the vertical lines are absolute value signs, which basically means that you take the positive value of what's inside them. In general, these are needed since the logarithm function is only defined for postiive real numbers. However, in this case, the argument is postive, and they are not really needed.

For A21, I'm afraid I don't really know what the Pr(A) and Pr(A') means. [Do you have the definition of Pr(A')? It looks like it must be equal to -Pr(A)]

Last edited: Mar 4, 2007
3. Mar 4, 2007

HallsofIvy

Pr(A) and Pr(A'), I'm sure, are "Probabiliity that event A occurs" and "Probability even A does not occur". It's a bit annoying that they also use A to represent the entire matrix, but, hey, it's a silly exercise to begin with! Whatever "event A" is, Pr(A)+ Pr(A') is easy trivial!

Oh, and for A22 use the obvious loge ex= x.

The problem I have is A21:
$$\left(\frac{d}{dx}(x^2)\right)^0$$

I would interpret that as the derivative evaluated at x= 0 but then the answer is not what you give! The derivative evaluated at x= 1/2 will give that answer.

Finally, this is surely not "precalculus"!

4. Mar 4, 2007

Hurkyl

Staff Emeritus
I'm pretty sure that's "raised to the 0-th power".

5. Mar 4, 2007

HallsofIvy

Ah, that makes sense!

Last edited by a moderator: Mar 4, 2007
6. Mar 5, 2007

morson

Ah, I see, so the probabilities added up is 1?

7. Mar 5, 2007

HallsofIvy

Yes, of course.