Probability of picking fish from a tank

In summary, the problem asks for the probability that at least half of the randomly selected and removed fish from a tank containing 12 male and 12 female guppies will be male. The solution involves using the distribution function to calculate the probability for each possible outcome (6 to 12 male fish selected), and then taking the complement for the probability of less than half being selected. This reduces the number of calculations needed from 7 to 3.
  • #1
ecesiu
7
0

Homework Statement



a fish tank contains 12 male and 12 female guppies what is the probability that at least half of male will be selected if 15 fish are randomly selected and removed from the tank??

Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution


i am tried to find the probability as following :
P(at least 6)=P(6)+P(7)+P(8)+P(9)+P(10)+P(11)+P(12)
=(12c6)(12c6)/(24c15) + (12c7)(12c5)/(24c15)+...+(12c12)(12c3)/(24c15)
it seems to be a very long solution is there any way to solve it using the distribution function
 
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  • #2


ecesiu said:

Homework Statement



a fish tank contains 12 male and 12 female guppies what is the probability that at least half of male will be selected if 15 fish are randomly selected and removed from the tank??

Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution


i am tried to find the probability as following :
P(at least 6)=P(6)+P(7)+P(8)+P(9)+P(10)+P(11)+P(12)
=(12c6)(12c6)/(24c15) + (12c7)(12c5)/(24c15)+...+(12c12)(12c3)/(24c15)
it seems to be a very long solution is there any way to solve it using the distribution function

Some problems just need a long solution; this is one of those. You ARE using the distribution function---that is exactly how you would compute it!

RGV
 
  • #3
Also you might want to calculate the probability that LESS than half are chosen, since
P(0,1,2) are all zero. So you only need to calculate three values instead of 7.
 
  • #4
thank you very much Ray Vickson , hgfalling it really nice idea to take the complement thanks
 

What is the probability of picking a fish from a tank?

The probability of picking a fish from a tank depends on the number of fish in the tank and the total number of objects in the tank. For example, if there are 10 fish and 100 objects in the tank, the probability of picking a fish would be 10/100 or 0.1 (10%).

Does the size of the tank affect the probability of picking a fish?

Yes, the size of the tank can affect the probability of picking a fish. Generally, the larger the tank, the higher the probability of picking a fish as there are more fish in a larger tank compared to a smaller tank.

What other factors can affect the probability of picking a fish from a tank?

The probability of picking a fish can also be affected by factors such as the type of fish in the tank, the feeding habits of the fish, and the frequency of water changes in the tank. These factors can impact the overall health and behavior of the fish, which in turn can affect the probability of picking a fish.

Is it possible to calculate the exact probability of picking a specific fish from a tank?

No, it is not possible to calculate the exact probability of picking a specific fish from a tank. This is because there are too many variables that can affect the probability, such as the movement of the fish and the randomness of the picking process.

Are there any techniques to increase the probability of picking a fish from a tank?

There are no guaranteed techniques to increase the probability of picking a fish from a tank. However, some suggestions include increasing the number of fish in the tank or using a smaller net to make it easier to catch a fish. It is important to remember to handle the fish gently and with care to avoid harming them.

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