What is the probability of two seeds germinating if their types are unknown?

  • Thread starter permorten
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In summary, the germination probability for seed A is Pa and for seed B is Pb. The probability of both seeds germinating when you plant two seeds of the same kind is (Pa^2+Pb^2)/2. If a student plants two seeds without knowing the type of seed, the probability that both seeds were type A if they both germinate is P(A|2 germinate) = P(2 germinate|A)P(A)/P(2 germinate) = P_a^2/(P_a^2+P_b^2).
  • #1
permorten
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Let the germination probability (the probability that a seed sprouts) for seed A be Pa and B be Pb.


a) You plant two seeds of the same kind. If you turn heads or tails of what sort you plantet, what is the probability that 2 seeds germinate?
b) A student plant 2 seeds, but he had forgotten to note what sort of seed he had planted. What is the probability that it was A if both germinate?

What i think i right so far:

a) probability should be: P = (Pa^2+Pb^2)/2
 
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  • #2
b) P(A|2 germinate)
=P(2 germinate|A)P(A)/P(2 germinate)
[tex]=\frac{\frac12P_a^2}{\frac12(P_a^2+P_b^2)}=\frac{P_a^2}{P_a^2+P_b^2}.[/tex]
 

1. What is the definition of probability?

Probability is a measure of the likelihood that a certain event will occur. It is represented as a number between 0 and 1, where 0 indicates impossibility and 1 indicates certainty.

2. How is probability calculated?

Probability is calculated by dividing the number of favorable outcomes by the total number of possible outcomes. This can be represented as a fraction, decimal, or percentage.

3. What are some common applications of probability?

Probability is used in many fields, including statistics, gambling, risk assessment, and decision making. It is also used in everyday situations, such as predicting the weather or the likelihood of winning a game.

4. How does probability differ from statistics?

Probability is a branch of mathematics that deals with the likelihood of events occurring, while statistics is a branch of mathematics that deals with the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data.

5. What are some common misconceptions about probability?

One common misconception is that if an event has not occurred for a long time, it is more likely to happen in the future. In reality, each event is independent and the probability does not change over time. Another misconception is that the more times an event occurs, the less likely it is to happen again. This is also not true, as each event has the same probability regardless of previous occurrences.

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