Statistics Question: Probability of Diamonds in a Deck

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around a probability problem involving the drawing of cards from a standard deck, specifically focusing on the likelihood of drawing diamonds. Participants explore the probabilities of three scenarios: all cards being diamonds, none being diamonds, and not all cards being diamonds. The scope includes mathematical reasoning and homework-related inquiry.

Discussion Character

  • Homework-related, Mathematical reasoning, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant calculates the probability of all three cards being diamonds as (13/52)*(12/51)*(11/50) and expresses uncertainty about their correctness.
  • Another participant agrees with the calculations for parts (a) and (b) but questions the interpretation of part (c), suggesting it may not simply be the opposite of part (a).
  • A third participant expresses confusion regarding the chapter's focus on mutually exclusive events and how it relates to the problem at hand.
  • A fourth participant proposes a case-based approach to understanding the probabilities, indicating that not all cards being diamonds can be approached through different scenarios.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the calculations for parts (a) and (b), but there is disagreement and confusion regarding the interpretation of part (c) and its relationship to the other parts of the problem.

Contextual Notes

Some participants express uncertainty about the definitions and conditions related to mutually exclusive events, which may affect their understanding of the problem.

Jamin2112
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Homework Statement



Three cards are dealt from a well-shuffled deck.

(a) Find the chance that all of the cards are diamonds.
(b) Find the chance that none of the cards are diamonds.
(b) Find the chance that the cards are not all diamonds.

Homework Equations



Not sure ...

The Attempt at a Solution



There are 52 cards in a deck. The chance of one being a diamond is 13/52. If you know that one card you were dealt is a diamond, then the chance of another being a diamond is 12/51, since there is 1 less card and 1 less diamond. And if you that two cards are diamonds, then the chance of a third being a diamond is 11/50. The chance of 3 cards being diamonds is therefore (13/52)*(12/51)*(11/50). Part (b) can be solved similarly. This time the chance is 39/52, then 38/51, then 37/50, and the chance of the three happening is (39/52)*(38/51)*(37/51). Part (c) is simply the opposite of part (a).

Am I right?
 
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It sounds like you have this all worked out to me. You have the probabilities for each stage correct, and multiplying the three together should lower the probability to show the probability of the two states, and then three. It looks good to me.

I came up with 11/850 for part(a) using that method.

I'm not sure that I entirely understand part(c).
"Find the chance that the cards are not all diamonds."

Sounds like this one is a little different. If the first card is a diamond, so it the second, but the third is not, it would still satisfy this condition right? I think this one is asking "What are the chances that none of the cards will be a diamond, and all of the cards will not be diamonds"

I don't think it's the opposite of part(a) as you mentioned.
 
Last edited:
I'm just confused because this chapter was supposed to be about adding things that are mutually exclusive.
 
I don't know what the chapter was supposed to be about, but I don't really see any other solution.

Not all the cards are diamonds...

So let's think of this in three cases.
In case 1, let's say the card cannot be a diamond
(3/4) right?

Let's also assume that because cases 1 and 2 will fulfill the "not all be diamonds" requirement, case three can be anything.
(1/1)

so what would case 2 have to be?
(3/4)(X/X)(1/1)
 

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