Moivre-Laplace theorem (homework)

AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around using the normal approximation to compute the probability of successes in Bernoulli trials. The user initially misinterprets the absolute value condition, leading to an incorrect compound inequality. Clarifications emphasize that the correct interpretation involves determining the conditions for S(n) being greater than 9 or less than 5. The importance of applying a continuity correction for better accuracy in the approximation is highlighted. Ultimately, the user expresses gratitude for the guidance received in resolving their confusion.
Poetria
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< Mentor Note -- thread moved to HH from the technical math forums, so no HH Template is shown >[/color]

I have no idea what I am doing wrong. Here is my problem:

S(n) - the number of successes in 10 Bernoulli trials, each with probability 0.7

I am supposed to use normal approximation to compute :

P{|S(n)/10-0.7|>0.2}

We are allowed to use a calculator.

I got:
|S(n)-7|>2|
5<S(n)>9

I have computed S*:

S(n)-7/1.44914
7=mean
1.44914- standard deviation

5*1.44914-7<Z<9*1.44914-7

Area (probability): 0.2451

But there is no such answer in the options.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
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Poetria said:
< Mentor Note -- thread moved to HH from the technical math forums, so no HH Template is shown >

I have no idea what I am doing wrong. Here is my problem:

S(n) - the number of successes in 10 Bernoulli trials, each with probability 0.7

I am supposed to use normal approximation to compute :

P{|S(n)/10-0.7|>0.2}

We are allowed to use a calculator.

I got:
|S(n)-7|>2|
5<S(n)>9

I have computed S*:

S(n)-7/1.44914
7=mean
1.44914- standard deviation

5*1.44914-7<Z<9*1.44914-7

Area (probability): 0.2451

But there is no such answer in the options.
What do you mean by 5<S(n)>9 ?

That's an invalid compound inequality.
 
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I see. :( My line of thought was as follows:

S(n)-7>2 or S(n)-7<-2 (this is an absolute value equation: |S(n)/10-0.7|>0.2)

How to correct it?
 
Poetria said:
I see. :( My line of thought was as follows:

S(n)-7>2 or S(n)-7<-2 (this is an absolute value equation: |S(n)/10-0.7|>0.2)

How to correct it?
What you have here is correct.

S(n)-7>2 or S(n)-7<-2

That says S(n) > 9 or S(n) < 5 . (You had S(n) > 5 )

You can't make these into a compound inequality.
 
Poetria said:
< Mentor Note -- thread moved to HH from the technical math forums, so no HH Template is shown >

I have no idea what I am doing wrong. Here is my problem:

S(n) - the number of successes in 10 Bernoulli trials, each with probability 0.7

I am supposed to use normal approximation to compute :

P{|S(n)/10-0.7|>0.2}

We are allowed to use a calculator.

I got:
|S(n)-7|>2|
5<S(n)>9

I have computed S*:

S(n)-7/1.44914
********************
Wrong: use parentheses, like this: (S(n) - 7)/1.44914

********************
7=mean
1.44914- standard deviation

5*1.44914-7<Z<9*1.44914-7

***********************
Wrong: you need 5 > 7 + 1.44914*Z or 7 + 1.44914*Z > 9

The complement of the event "{S(n) < 5} or {S(n) > 9}" is {5 <= S(n) <= 9}, which translates to
5 <= 7 + 1.44914*Z <= 9, or -1.38 <= Z <= 1.38 in the normal approximation.

However, since n = 10 is small, the normal approximation might not be very good, but it can be improved a lot by using the so-called "1/2-correction". The random variable S(n) is discrete (taking values 0,1,2,...,10 only), so {5 < S(n) < 9} = {S(n) = 6,7,8}. In the normal approximation, replace this by {5.5 <= S_normal <= 8.5}, so
5.5 <= 7 + 1.44914*Z <= 8.5. The resulting increase in accuracy is striking in this example.

*********************
Area (probability): 0.2451

But there is no such answer in the options.
Poetria said:
< Mentor Note -- thread moved to HH from the technical math forums, so no HH Template is shown >

I have no idea what I am doing wrong. Here is my problem:

S(n) - the number of successes in 10 Bernoulli trials, each with probability 0.7

I am supposed to use normal approximation to compute :

P{|S(n)/10-0.7|>0.2}

We are allowed to use a calculator.

I got:
|S(n)-7|>2|
5<S(n)>9

I have computed S*:

S(n)-7/1.44914
7=mean
1.44914- standard deviation

5*1.44914-7<Z<9*1.44914-7

Area (probability): 0.2451

But there is no such answer in the options.
 
Last edited:
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Thank you so much. I have tried to work it out. I think I got it. My problem is that I still can't get an exact answer. The closest (with the correction you have suggested):
if x = 5.5 I get 0.15031188 (I can choose 0.1675)
http://www.danielsoper.com/statcalc3/calc.aspx?id=53

The result: 0.08377348 is very imprecise.
Actually some calculators demand x, some Z. It is a mess.
 
Sorry, I get 0.71860226. Even worse.
 
I got it at last. :) Many thanks. :) You have helped me a lot. :) :) :)
 
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