Probability Calculations for Random Samples and Genetic Inheritance

  • Context: Undergrad 
  • Thread starter Thread starter brunettegurl
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Probability
Join the discussion
Registration is free. Ask a follow-up in this thread, or start your own.
3 replies · 5K views
brunettegurl
Messages
138
Reaction score
0
1) A random sample of 2 people are selected from a group of 15 girls and 8 boys to participate in a study. Find the probability that the sample consists of 1 boy and 1 girl.

My take : n=23 P(1girl)*P(1boy)
(15/23)*(8/23)
= 0.2268
the answer should be 0.4743

2)Suppose that a disease is inherited via an autosomal recessive mode of inheritence.The children in the family have a probability of 1/4 of inheriting the disease. In a family of 4 children, find the probability that at least one of the children inherits the disease.

My take: n=4 x=1 p=1/4
nCx= n!/x!(n-x)! f(x)= nCx* px(1-p)n-x

I get 0.4219
The answer should be 0.6836

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks
 
Physics news on Phys.org
The simplest way to solve these problems:

1) P (1 boy 1 girl) = 1-P(2 girls) - P(2 boys)

2) P(one child or more inherits disease) = 1-P(no child inherits disease)These are very easy to work out, and don't require the level of complexity of the formulas you are using.