Probability of Child Contracting Waterpokken

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SUMMARY

The probability of a child contracting 'waterpokken' is calculated using Bayes' Theorem and the law of total probability. Given that 60% of children are vaccinated, the probabilities of contracting the disease are 0.001 for vaccinated children and 0.01 for unvaccinated children. The overall probability, P(W), is determined to be 0.0046, combining the contributions from both vaccinated and unvaccinated groups. This calculation is essential for understanding the impact of vaccination on disease transmission.

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Homework Statement


In a population of children 60% are vaccinated against the 'waterpokken'. The probablilities of contracting 'waterpokking' are 1/1000 if the child is vaccinated and 1/100 if not.

a: Find the probability that a child selected at random will contract 'waterpokken'.

Homework Equations


Bayes Theorem: P(A|B) = P(A/\B) / P(B)
Formula sheet? View attachment stat_formulas.pdf

The Attempt at a Solution


Known values: P(V) = 0.6 | P(⌐V) = 0.4 | P(W|V) = 0.001 | P(W|⌐V) = 0.01

a: Find the probability that a child selected at random will contract 'waterpokken'.
  1. The question is: what is P(W)?
    From Bayes Theorem I conclude: P(W) = P(V/\W) / P(V|W)
    Both P(V/\W) & P(V|W) are unkown at this stage.[*]P(V/\W)?
    Fill in known values in bayes theorem:
    P(W|V) = P(W/\V) / P(V) = 0.001 = P(W/\V) / 0.6
    So: P(V/\W) = P(W/\V) = P(V) * P(W|V) = 0.6 * 0.001 = 0.0006
    Until here I get it! But now...[*]P(V|W)?
    P(V|W) = P(V/\W) / P(W) but I don't know P(W) :S?

    Answer sheet solution:
    P(W/\⌐V) = P(W|⌐V) = 0.01 * 0.4 = 0.004
    P(W) = P(W/\V) + P(W/\⌐V) = 0.0006 + 0.004 = 0.0046


1. What rules are applied in the third section? Could someone explain to me how they conclude to
P(W/\⌐V) = P(W|⌐V) and P(W) = P(W/\V) + P(W/\⌐V) ?

Maybe it's part of the formulas at the bottom of the first page of my formula sheet View attachment stat_formulas.pdf

2. Is there a way I could have known that I would need to work to that solution. Because I concluded I needed to work towards P(W) = P(V/\W) / P(V|W) but that plainly doesn't work..:(
 
Last edited:
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is my question not clear enough?:( The exam is tomorrow (tuesday).
 
It doesn't require Bayes theorem. Just plug the numbers into

P(W) = P(W|V)P(V) + P(W|\overline V)P(\overline V)
 
I always prefer to work with integers! Suppose there are 10000 children. 6000 of them are vaccinated, 4000 are not. Of the 6000 who are vaccinated 6 of them contract the disease, 5994. Of the 4000 who are not vaccinated, 40 contract the disease.
 

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