Probability of receiving a binary one

AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around calculating the probability of receiving a binary one given that a one was sent, using the formula P(A|B) = P(A ∩ B) / P(B). The calculations presented initially yield a probability of 0.985, but the correct answer is stated as 147/148, approximately 0.9932. The errors identified include using the wrong denominator in the probability formula and misdefining events A and B, which led to incorrect results. The correct approach involves ensuring that the calculations reflect the probability of receiving a one given that a one was sent. Overall, the discussion highlights the importance of correctly applying probability formulas and definitions in such calculations.
Addez123
Messages
199
Reaction score
21
Homework Statement
When transmitting ones and zeros through wires it encounters disturbance and can alter the recieved number from 0 to one and 1 to zero.

Given that you've recieved a one, whats the probability that one was actually sent?
Relevant Equations
The risk of sending 0 but receiving 1 is .01
The risk of sending 1 but receiving 0 is .02

The 0s and 1s are sent in the proportions:
Zeros .6
Ones .4
$$P(A|B) = P(A \cap B) / P(A)$$

$$P(A) = \text{Chance of 1 being received} = .4 * .98 + .6 * .01 = .398$$
$$P(A \cap B) = \text{Chance 1 being sent and 1 being received} = .4 * .98 = .392$$
$$P(A|B) = P(A \cap B) / P(A) = .392 / .398 = .985$$

The correct answer is 147/148 ~= .9932

What am I doing wrong?

Also, am I supposed to use * for multiplication or is some other symbol prefered?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Hi,
Addez123 said:
The correct answer is 147/148 ~= .9932
Says who ? For the problem statement as you render it I don't see 147/148 popping up any way at all !
 
  • Like
Likes PeroK
The solution in the book says 147/148 :/
 
Addez123 said:
The solution in the book says 147/148 :/
Your method looks right to me.
 
Addez123 said:
The solution in the book says 147/148 :/
Try swapping the proportion of zeros and ones that are sent!
 
  • Like
Likes etotheipi and FactChecker
Addez123 said:
Homework Statement:: When transmitting ones and zeros through wires it encounters disturbance and can alter the received number from 0 to one and 1 to zero.

Given that you've received a one, what's the probability that one was actually sent?
Relevant Equations:: The risk of sending 0 but receiving 1 is .01
The risk of sending 1 but receiving 0 is .02

The 0s and 1s are sent in the proportions:
Zeros .6
Ones .4

$$P(A|B) = P(A \cap B) / P(A)$$

$$P(A) = \text{Chance of 1 being received} = .4 * .98 + .6 * .01 = .398$$
$$P(A \cap B) = \text{Chance 1 being sent and 1 being received} = .4 * .98 = .392$$
$$P(A|B) = P(A \cap B) / P(A) = .392 / .398 = .985$$

The correct answer is 147/148 ~= .9932

What am I doing wrong?

Also, am I supposed to use * for multiplication or is some other symbol prefered?
You got the right answer, but as a result of two errors that cancelled.
P(A|B) is the probability of event A given event B. The correct equation is ##P(A|B) = \frac{P(A \cap B) }{ P(B)}##. Note the denominator.
The other error is that you defined A and B in such a way that your calculation should have yielded the probability of getting a 1 given that a 1 was sent, which is the converse of what is asked.
 
  • Haha
  • Like
Likes Addez123 and PeroK
I tried to combine those 2 formulas but it didn't work. I tried using another case where there are 2 red balls and 2 blue balls only so when combining the formula I got ##\frac{(4-1)!}{2!2!}=\frac{3}{2}## which does not make sense. Is there any formula to calculate cyclic permutation of identical objects or I have to do it by listing all the possibilities? Thanks
Essentially I just have this problem that I'm stuck on, on a sheet about complex numbers: Show that, for ##|r|<1,## $$1+r\cos(x)+r^2\cos(2x)+r^3\cos(3x)...=\frac{1-r\cos(x)}{1-2r\cos(x)+r^2}$$ My first thought was to express it as a geometric series, where the real part of the sum of the series would be the series you see above: $$1+re^{ix}+r^2e^{2ix}+r^3e^{3ix}...$$ The sum of this series is just: $$\frac{(re^{ix})^n-1}{re^{ix} - 1}$$ I'm having some trouble trying to figure out what to...
Back
Top