Probability Question.Can somone tell me if i am doing right thing

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a probability problem involving the formation of a committee from a group of scientists, specifically focusing on the voting behavior of the committee members based on their professional backgrounds. The original poster presents a series of questions regarding the probability of the committee voting in favor of a proposal under different scenarios.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to calculate probabilities based on different configurations of committee members, questioning whether their methods and results are correct. Participants raise skepticism about the calculations and suggest the need for reevaluation of certain combinatorial approaches.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively engaging with the original poster's calculations, providing feedback and raising questions about specific steps taken. Some guidance has been offered regarding potential errors in the calculations, and the original poster is encouraged to reflect on their reasoning process.

Contextual Notes

There are indications of confusion regarding combinatorial counting and the application of the addition rule in probability. The original poster expresses urgency due to an upcoming exam, highlighting the pressure to understand the mistakes made in their calculations.

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I WANNA KNOW IF MY ANSWERS AND METHOD ARE CORRECT

Homework Statement



A science committee of 3 people is to be formed from a group of 17 scientists (7 biologists, 4
physicists and 6 chemists) with each possible committee equally likely.
What is the probability the committee vote in favour of a proposal given:-
(a) all biologists in favour, everybody else against?
(b) all chemists against, everybody else in favour?
(c) all biologists in favour, all chemists against and all physicists abstain?

Homework Equations


none


The Attempt at a Solution


Favour =Majority of comitte favour i.e at least 2 of 3 favour
For question 1
Sample space = (17C3)=680
If biologist all favour.. Then for favour, 2 biologist or 3 biologist in the comitee
Event 1= 2 biologist and 1 other=(7C2)*(10C1) =210
Event 2= 3 biologist and 0 other=(7C2)*(10C0) =35

245/Sample space = 245/680 = 49/136=36%

IS THIS CORRECT?

For question 2
Sample space = (17C3)=680

If bioligist all favour + phyicists all favour + all chemist against. Then we have many events. So is better to use addition rule.

Addition rule = E + NOT E=Sample Space.....where E= favour

NOT E= 2 chemists or 3 chemists in comitee

Event 1= 2 chemist and 1 other=(6C2)*(10C1) =150
Event 2= 3 chemist and 0 other=(6C2)*(10C0) =15

NOT E=150+15=165

(Sample space-NOT E) = E=680-165=515
515/Sample Space=Probability of E=515/680=103/136=75.7%

IS THIS CORRECT METHOD?
For question 3
Sample space = (17C3)=680

If all biologist favour + all chemist against + all physicists don't give a damn.
Favour = (3 biologist)+(2 biologist+1 Other) =Question 1
Favour = (1 bioligist + 2 physicists) +(2 bioligist + 1 physicists)
Favour = (2 bioligist + 1 chemist)

Then we have many events. So is better to use addition rule.

NOT favour=(1 chemist + 2 physicist) + (2 chemist + 1 physicist) + (3 chemist)
NOT favour=(2 chemist + bioligist)

NOT favour=(6C1)(4C2) + (6C2)(4C1) +(6C3) + (6C2)(7C1)=36+60+20+105=221

Sample space - NOT favour = 680-221=459
459/680=27/40=67.5%

IS THIS CORRECT METHOD AND ANSWER?
 
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For question 1: I like your 245/680.
For question 2: I'm very skeptical about your 515/680 and think that is a little too high and you should check that again.
For question 3: I'm very skeptical about your 459/680 and think that is much too high and you should check that again.
 
Bill Simpson said:
For question 1: I like your 245/680.
For question 2: I'm very skeptical about your 515/680 and think that is a little too high and you should check that again.
For question 3: I'm very skeptical about your 459/680 and think that is much too high and you should check that again.
Thanks for your time. I really appreciate it.

Question 1 has 7 people in favour
Question 2 has 11 people in favour (so should be higher than Q1)
Question 3 has 7 people in favour but this time can pass with 1 biologist, given 2 physicists.


Can you tell me what i did in my working out, that made you skeptical.
 
I expected my initial hints would be enough. Try again.

For Question 2 I believe neither your (6C2)*(10C1) nor your (6C2)*(10C0) are correct. Why?

For Question 3 I believe your population-opposed is missing something essential. What?

Now, if I am correct, the more important thing for you to discover is why you made this kind of mistakes and why you were not able to discover them and what changes you could make to try to make to avoid this in the future. That will be far more valuable to you than the answers. Too many see an error, quickly scribble in the new answer and completely miss what they could learn from the process.
 
Bill Simpson said:
I expected my initial hints would be enough. Try again.

For Question 2 I believe neither your (6C2)*(10C1) nor your (6C2)*(10C0) are correct. Why?

For Question 3 I believe your population-opposed is missing something essential. What?

Now, if I am correct, the more important thing for you to discover is why you made this kind of mistakes and why you were not able to discover them and what changes you could make to try to make to avoid this in the future. That will be far more valuable to you than the answers. Too many see an error, quickly scribble in the new answer and completely miss what they could learn from the process.


do you think i double counted or double subtracted. i.e their is a repeat somewhere, so i need to sibtract something e.t.c


i got an exam tommorow. if you have time. i kindly ask you tell me exactly what i did wrong so i can see the error, as i am kind of worried.

thanks again
 
Bill Simpson said:
I expected my initial hints would be enough. Try again.

For Question 2 I believe neither your (6C2)*(10C1) nor your (6C2)*(10C0) are correct. Why?

For Question 3 I believe your population-opposed is missing something essential. What?

Now, if I am correct, the more important thing for you to discover is why you made this kind of mistakes and why you were not able to discover them and what changes you could make to try to make to avoid this in the future. That will be far more valuable to you than the answers. Too many see an error, quickly scribble in the new answer and completely miss what they could learn from the process.

OH i see what i did wrong. it should be (6C2)*(11C1)+(6C2)*(11C0)

thanks for your help
 
For question 2
***CORRECTIONS MADE***
Sample space = (17C3)=680

If bioligist all favour + phyicists all favour + all chemist against. Then we have many events. So is better to use addition rule.

Addition rule = E + NOT E=Sample Space.....where E= favour

NOT E= 2 chemists or 3 chemists in comitee

Event 1= 2 chemist and 1 other=(6C2)*(11C1) =165
Event 2= 3 chemist and 0 other=(6C3)*(11C0) =20

NOT E=165+20=185

(Sample space-NOT E) = E=680-185=495.
495/Sample Space=Probability of E=495/680=99/136=72.79%

IS THIS CORRECT METHOD?

For question 3
***CORRECTIONS MADE***
Sample space = (17C3)=680

If all biologist favour + all chemist against + all physicists don't give a damn.
Favour = (3 biologist)+(2 biologist+1 Other) =Question 1
Favour = (1 bioligist + 2 physicists) +(2 bioligist + 1 physicists)
Favour = (2 bioligist + 1 chemist)

Then we have many events. So is better to use addition rule.

NOT favour=(1 chemist + 2 physicist) + (2 chemist + 1 physicist) + (3 chemist)
NOT favour=(2 chemist + bioligist)
NOT favour=(1 chemist + 1 bioligist + 1 physicists)

NOT favour=(6C1)(4C2) + (6C2)(4C1) +(6C3) + (6C2)(7C1) + (6C1)(7C1)(4C1)=36+60+20+105 + 168=389

Sample space - NOT favour = 680-389=291
291/680=42.79%

Final notes
What i have learnt
-Always check if the permutations add up to the sample size (in this case 17)
-Need to learn how a democracy works. If its a tie, then it doesn't pass/no favour

The problems worse for me because i have found in many exams when i see the answer in a calculator, i write another answer down on paper. E.g if i see 1723, i sometimes would write down 1273
 
Last edited:
"OH i see what i did wrong. it should be (6C2)*(11C1)+(6C2)*(11C0)"
Still not right.
"Event 1= 2 chemist and 1 other=(6C2)*(11C1) =165
Event 2= 3 chemist and 0 other=(6C3)*(11C0) =20"
Finally right.

"NOT favour=(6C1)(4C2) + (6C2)(4C1) +(6C3) + (6C2)(7C1) + (6C1)(7C1)(4C1)=36+60+20+105 + 168=389"
Still missing one case.

But at least it sounds like you are beginning to recognize the kinds of errors you make. That is a very good thing. Keep watching for the kinds of errors you make and what kinds of circumstances they show up in. And make yourself some rules that you will follow to help yourself catch and correct those mistakes.
 
Last edited:
Bill Simpson said:
I expected my initial hints would be enough. Try again.

For Question 2 I believe neither your (6C2)*(10C1) nor your (6C2)*(10C0) are correct. Why?

For Question 3 I believe your population-opposed is missing something essential. What?

Now, if I am correct, the more important thing for you to discover is why you made this kind of mistakes and why you were not able to discover them and what changes you could make to try to make to avoid this in the future. That will be far more valuable to you than the answers. Too many see an error, quickly scribble in the new answer and completely miss what they could learn from the process.

Bill Simpson said:
"OH i see what i did wrong. it should be (6C2)*(11C1)+(6C2)*(11C0)"
Still not right.
"Event 1= 2 chemist and 1 other=(6C2)*(11C1) =165
Event 2= 3 chemist and 0 other=(6C3)*(11C0) =20"
Finally right.

"NOT favour=(6C1)(4C2) + (6C2)(4C1) +(6C3) + (6C2)(7C1) + (6C1)(7C1)(4C1)=36+60+20+105 + 168=389"
Still missing one case.

But at least it sounds like you are beginning to recognize the kinds of errors you make. That is a very good thing. Keep watching for the kinds of errors you make and what kinds of circumstances they show up in. And make yourself some rules that you will follow to help yourself catch and correct those mistakes.

yes, i am missing the case where their is "3 physicists"...i am so grateful for all your help.

you didnt need to take your time to help me, but still did. i can see that you are a decent person. i thank you for all your generosity up to now

thanks again
 
Last edited:
  • #10
For question 3
***CORRECTIONS MADE***
Sample space = (17C3)=680

If all biologist favour + all chemist against + all physicists don't give a damn.
Favour = (3 biologist)+(2 biologist+1 Other) =Question 1
Favour = (1 bioligist + 2 physicists) +(2 bioligist + 1 physicists)
Favour = (2 bioligist + 1 chemist)

Then we have many events. So is better to use addition rule.

NOT favour=(1 chemist + 2 physicist) + (2 chemist + 1 physicist) + (3 chemist)
NOT favour=(2 chemist + 1 bioligist)
NOT favour=(1 chemist + 1 bioligist + 1 physicists)
NOT favour=(3 physicists)

NOT favour=(6C1)(4C2) + (6C2)(4C1) +(6C3) + (6C2)(7C1) + (6C1)(7C1)(4C1) + (4C3)=36+60+20+105 + 168 + 4=393

Sample space - NOT favour = 680-393=287
287/680=42.21%

Final notes
What i have learnt
-Need to learn how a democracy works (if no one votes, then no favour/no one wins)
 

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