MHB Probability of Turning into a Bird

AI Thread Summary
A substitute teacher convinced kindergarten students that she would turn into a bird by the end of the day, prompting a discussion on the probability of this event. The consensus is that the probability of a human turning into a bird is zero, as there are no known mechanisms for such a transformation. The calculation supports this, showing that with only one possible outcome (remaining human), the probability remains zero. The conversation also touches on the challenges of understanding probability, suggesting that misconceptions may hinder learning in this area. Ultimately, the conclusion is that the event is impossible, reinforcing the concept of probability in this context.
mathdad
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Substitute teacher, Baraba Rose, convinced a class of kindergarden kids that she would turn into a bird before the school day ends. What is the probability that this event will take place?

Solution:

Let P = probability

P(turning into bird) = 0

The answer is 0 because human beings cannot turn themselves into birds or any other animal.

Correct?

Can an equation be set up for this question?
 
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Well, there are zero known ways for a human being to become a bird, so we can simply say the probability here is zero. The total number of outcomes is one, and that is she will have not changed species on or before the end of the day, so there is only 1 possible outcome, thus:

P(X) = 0/1 = 0
 
I can see that probability is not easy.
 
RTCNTC said:
I can see that probability is not easy.
It looks to me like a large part of your problem with probability is that you keep telling yourself this.
 
HallsofIvy said:
It looks to me like a large part of your problem with probability is that you keep telling yourself this.

When the time comes, I will dive into this area of math a little deeper.
 
If "the time" has not yet come, why are you posting so many questions like these?
 
Seemingly by some mathematical coincidence, a hexagon of sides 2,2,7,7, 11, and 11 can be inscribed in a circle of radius 7. The other day I saw a math problem on line, which they said came from a Polish Olympiad, where you compute the length x of the 3rd side which is the same as the radius, so that the sides of length 2,x, and 11 are inscribed on the arc of a semi-circle. The law of cosines applied twice gives the answer for x of exactly 7, but the arithmetic is so complex that the...

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