Q3:What are the probabilities of correctly identifying thornbill species?

  • Thread starter Thread starter sam_0017
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Tree
Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around probability problems related to identifying thornbill species and Markov chains for user membership classifications in Xbox Live. The first question involves determining the probabilities of Harry and George correctly identifying thornbills, while the second question focuses on the transition probabilities of Xbox Live membership statuses.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the setup of probability calculations for identifying thornbill species, including the use of probability trees and joint probabilities. There is also a focus on the Markov chain setup for user classifications in Xbox Live, with some questioning the reasoning behind certain calculations.

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided calculations and interpretations of the problems, while others seek clarification on specific steps and reasoning. There appears to be ongoing exploration of the methods used to approach the problems, with no explicit consensus reached on the correctness of the solutions presented.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working within the constraints of homework assignments, which may limit the extent of guidance offered. There is an emphasis on understanding the underlying concepts rather than simply obtaining answers.

sam_0017
Messages
17
Reaction score
0
hi can anyone help my whit this questions :confused:

Q1:

Harry is an amateur birdwatcher who goes birdwatching in a region in which he knows there are only two species of thornbill – the buff-rumped thornbill and the yellow-rumped thornbill. Harry has some difficulty in differentiating the two species (but he does know a thornbill when he sees one). If Harry sees a buff-rumped thornbill, he will correctly identify it 80% of the time. If he sees a yellow-rumped thornbill, he will correctly identify it 60% of the time. In this region, 70% of the thornbills are buff-rumped.

(i) If Harry sees a thornbill, what is the probability that he thinks it is a yellow-rumped?

Harry goes birdwatching in this region with George who is a thornbill expert. If Harry correctly identifies a thornbill, George will correctly identify it 99% of the time. If Harry misidentifies a thornbill, George will correctly identify it 90% of the time.

(ii) Harry and George both spot a thornbill which they both identify as a yellow-rumped. What is the probability that the bird is in fact buff-rumped?

=============================================

Q2:

At the start of each month, Microsoft classifies Xbox Live users either as Gold, Silver or Bronze members. Gold members have a 70% chance of staying a Gold member, and can never become Bronze members by the end of the next month. If a user is a Silver member at the start of a given month, then they are 3 times as likely as becoming a Gold member compared with a Bronze member at the start of the next month. They also have a 40% chance of staying a Silver member.
Finally, 50% of Bronze members remain Bronze members, while 50% become Silver members at the start of the next month. For the 50% of Bronze members who would become Silver members at the start of the next month, Microsoft randomly offers 10% of these users a chance to become a Gold member at the start of the next months (hence it is possible for Bronze members to become Gold members in one month). To accept this offer, the user must pay a small fee, so not everybody accepts. Microsoft estimates that 90% of Bronze members accept this offer.

(a) Set up the probability transition matrix for this Markov chain, with a user’s membership considered at the beginning of each month.

(b) If a user is a Bronze member at the beginning of April, what is the probability that they will be a Gold member at the beginning of June?

(c) Determine the proportion of users who are Gold members in the long run.
 
Physics news on Phys.org


It might be useful to draw a tree of possibilities:
Code:
         /\
        /  \
   yellow   not yellow
     /\          /\
    /  \        /  \
   /    \    right wrong
 right wrong

Now add the given probabilities. Which path(s) through the tree identifyies(y) the situation in (i)?
 


what about Q1 (II) and Q2
 


You're welcome.

Did you manage to do Q1 (I), because (II) is quite similar.

Please be a little more specific in your question, we're not going to do your problems for you.
Q2 is a really straightforward question about Markov chains (it's like they filled out "the" template for Markov chain problem sets :-)), so what are you having trouble with?
 


hi,

Q1:

Part 1:

P(buff-rumped) = .7
P(yellow-rumped) = .3

P(Harry correctly identifies buff-rumped)=.8
P(Harry incorrectly identifies buff-rumped)=.2


P(Harry correctly identifies yellow-rumped)=.6
P(Harry incorrectly identifies yellow-rumped)=.4

P(Harry thinks it is a yelow-rumped)=.18

hope this helps. If you truly understand this; you will do 2nd part without any difficulty, if not find a different subject that you will enjoy while you're learning!
 


Thanks,
but i solve the problem this way and i don't know is it correct or not:

i.
p(yellow, harry thinks it's yellow) = 0.3 * 0.6 = 0.18
p(yellow, harry thinks it's buff) = 0.3 * 0.4 = 0.12
p(buff, harry thinks it's yellow) = 0.7 * 0.2 = 0.14
p(buff, harry thinks it's buff) = 0.7 * 0.8 = 0.56
=> p(harry think it's yellow) = 0.18 + 0.14 = 0.32

ii. There are two ways they can both say yellow:
p(yellow, harry thinks yellow, george correctly agrees) = 0.18 * 0.99 = 0.1782
p(buff, harry thinks yellow, george incorrectly agrees) = 0.14 * 0.10 = 0.014
=> p(actually buff) = 0.014 / (0.014 + 0.1782)
 


Your answer for i) looks good.
For ii), why do you divide by (0.014 + 0.1782)? Isn't 0.014 already the answer?
 


you can see P ( A|B) = p(A [itex]\cap[/itex] B) /p (B)
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
3K
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
2K
  • · Replies 96 ·
4
Replies
96
Views
12K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
3K
  • · Replies 67 ·
3
Replies
67
Views
16K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • · Replies 152 ·
6
Replies
152
Views
11K
  • · Replies 31 ·
2
Replies
31
Views
5K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
4K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
11K