What is P(B) given conditional probabilities and the complement of A?

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The discussion focuses on calculating probabilities and expectations using conditional probabilities and complements. For P(A ∪ B), the correct formula is P(A) + P(B) - P(A ∩ B), leading to a result of 0.6 when substituting the given values. The expected value E(X) is determined to be 3 from the moment generating function Mx(u) = (1-u)^{-3}. Additionally, E(X^3) is calculated as 2/5 through integration of the probability density function. Lastly, P(¬B) is found to be 0.29 using the law of total probability, clarifying the relationship between events A and B.
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Well the first and last I'm having some troubles with, and 2-4 I think the logic I am using is correct but would like his verified since no answers were provided

What is P(A \cup B) if P(A) = 0.2, P(A \cap B) = 0.1, P(B) = 0.5?

Would that just be the prob. of being in A or B minus prob of being in both (prob of being in A + prob being in B - A int B). Would it depend on whether they are mutually exclusive or not? (how can we tell if that's all tahts given in the question).
I am kind of half between (A + B) and half between (A + B - AintB). But since A int B was included in the question, would that imply that I should use A + B - A int B = 0.2 + 0.5 - 0.1 = 0.6

---
What is E(X) if Mx(u) = (1-u)^{-3}, u<1

To find E(X) find the first derivative:
= -3(1-u)^(-4).-1
= 3(1-u)^(-4)
and then let u -> 0
3(1)^(-4)
=3

Therefor E(X) = 3


---
What is E(X^{3}) if fx(x) = 2x, 0<x<1

E(X^(3)) = integral (0,1) of 2x.x^3 dx
= int (0,1) 2x^4 dx
= 2/5 x^5 .. (0,1)
= 2/5

Therefor E(X^3)) = 2/5

---
What is c if
g(x) = c|x|, x = -2, -1, 1, 2 is a probability function

For it to be a prob. function, the sum of all the probabilities must equal 1
2c + c + c + 2c = 1
c = 1/6

---
What is P(\overline{B}) if P(B|\overline{A}) = 0.5, P(\overline{A}) = 0.3 and P(B|A) = 0.8 ?

Well I'm a bit stuck on this question;
I used some multiplicative laws to find
P(A \cap B) = 0.56
and P(B \cap \overline{A}) = 0.15
I'm not sure how to continue from here.

Thanks
 
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(A):
What is P(A \cup B) if P(A) = 0.2, P(A \cap B) = 0.1, P(B) = 0.5?

(B):
What is P(\overline{B}) if P(B|\overline{A}) = 0.5, P(\overline{A}) = 0.3 and P(B|A) = 0.8 ?
ITEM (A):
P(A ∪ B) = P(A) + P(B) - P(A ∩ B)
::: ⇒ P(A ∪ B) = (0.2) + (0.5) - (0.1)
::: ⇒ P(A ∪ B) = (0.6)

ITEM (B):
From problem statement:
P(Ac) = (0.3)
P(A) = 1 - P(Ac) = 1 - (0.3) = (0.7)

P(B | A) = (0.8)
P(Bc | A) = 1 - P(B | A) = 1 - (0.8) = (0.2)

P(B | Ac) = 0.5
P(Bc | Ac) = 1 - P(B | Ac) = 1 - (0.5) = (0.5)

Thus, using above results:
P(Bc) = P(Bc ∩ A) + P(Bc ∩ Ac) =
= P(Bc | A)*P(A) + P(Bc | Ac)*P(Ac) =
= (0.2)*(0.7) + (0.5)*(0.3)
::: ⇒ P(Bc) = (0.29)


~~
 
buddingscientist said:
Well the first and last I'm having some troubles with, and 2-4 I think the logic I am using is correct but would like his verified since no answers were provided

What is P(A \cup B) if P(A) = 0.2, P(A \cap B) = 0.1, P(B) = 0.5?

Would that just be the prob. of being in A or B minus prob of being in both (prob of being in A + prob being in B - A int B). Would it depend on whether they are mutually exclusive or not? (how can we tell if that's all tahts given in the question).
I am kind of half between (A + B) and half between (A + B - AintB). But since A int B was included in the question, would that imply that I should use A + B - A int B = 0.2 + 0.5 - 0.1 = 0.6

P(A\cup B)= P(A)+ P(B)- P(A \cap B) so in this problem, yes, P(A\cup B)= .2+ .5- .1= 0.6.
You know that A and B are not mutually exclusive because
P(A\cap B) is not 0!

What is E(X) if Mx(u) = (1-u)^{-3}, u&lt;1

To find E(X) find the first derivative:
= -3(1-u)^(-4).-1
= 3(1-u)^(-4)
and then let u -> 0
3(1)^(-4)
=3

Therefor E(X) = 3

Assuming that Mx(u) is the moment generating function, then, yes, E(X) is the coefficient of u in the McLaurin expansion of Mx(u): 3 in this case.


What is E(X^{3}) if fx(x) = 2x, 0<x<1

E(X^(3)) = integral (0,1) of 2x.x^3 dx
= int (0,1) 2x^4 dx
= 2/5 x^5 .. (0,1)
= 2/5

Therefor E(X^3)) = 2/5

Yes, that's correct.

What is c if
g(x) = c|x|, x = -2, -1, 1, 2 is a probability function

For it to be a prob. function, the sum of all the probabilities must equal 1
2c + c + c + 2c = 1
c = 1/6

Of course.

What is P(\overline{B}) if P(B|\overline{A}) = 0.5, P(\overline{A}) = 0.3 and P(B|A) = 0.8 ?

Well I'm a bit stuck on this question;
I used some multiplicative laws to find
P(A \cap B) = 0.56
and P(B \cap \overline{A}) = 0.15
I'm not sure how to continue from here.

Thanks

If P(\overline A)= 0.3 then P(A)= 1- 0.3= 0.7
P(B)= P(B|A)P(A)+ P(B|\overline A)P(\overline A)
= 0.8(0.7)+ 0.5(0.3)= 0.56+ 0.15= 0.71 so
P(\overline B)= 1- 0.71= 0.29.
 
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Could someone please explain what A^c means? I've never encountered this notation when working with sets? Is it the same as the cartesian product of a set: A^n
 
A^c just means the complement of A.
 
Ahh thank you all very much, I must have been unaware of the following results:
P(B)= P(B \cap A) + P(B \cap \overline A)
P(B)= P(B|A)P(A)+ P(B|\overline A)P(\overline A)
and
P(\overline B)= P(\overline B \cap A) + P(\overline B \cap \overline A)
P(\overline B)= P(\overline B|A)P(A)+ P(\overline B|\overline A)P(\overline A)

The prob. of B is the prob of B if A happens + the prob of B if a doesn't happen. Since either A either happens or it doesn't (duh).

Once again thanks I understand it now.
 
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