What's the probability of selecting John and then James as disciples of Jesus?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the probability of selecting John and then James from a set of 12 disciples of Jesus. It explores the setup of the problem, the mathematical reasoning behind probability calculations, and the importance of understanding the concepts involved.

Discussion Character

  • Mathematical reasoning, Conceptual clarification, Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant outlines the basic principles of probability, stating that if there are n objects, the probability of selecting one is 1/n, and after selecting one, the probability of selecting another is 1/(n-1).
  • Using the specific case of 12 disciples, the probability of selecting John first is given as 1/12, followed by the probability of selecting James as 1/11, leading to a combined probability of 1/(11*12) = 1/132.
  • Another participant emphasizes the importance of understanding the problem step-by-step rather than just receiving the answer, suggesting that this approach aids in transferring knowledge to other similar problems.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

There is a general agreement on the mathematical approach to the problem, but some participants express concern about the repetitive nature of the questions being asked, indicating a potential disagreement on the learning process involved.

Contextual Notes

The discussion does not resolve whether the probability calculation is the only method to approach the problem, nor does it address any assumptions about the context of selecting disciples.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be useful for individuals interested in probability theory, particularly in the context of combinatorial problems or those seeking to understand the foundational concepts of probability in a mathematical setting.

mathdad
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Jesus had 12 disciples. What's the probability of selecting John and then James?

What is the set up?
 
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Basically, you keep asking same question over and over again! Are you actually learning anything?

If you have n objects, the probability of choosing anyone of them is 1/n. If you have n objects, once you have chosen one, without replacement, there are n- 1 objects left. The probability of choosing anyone of those n- 1 objects is 1/(n-1). When the probability of event A is p and the probability of event B is q, the probability of "event A and event B" is pq.

Here n= 12. The probability of choosing "John" first is 1/12. The probability of choosing "James" next is 1/11. The probability of choosing "John" and then "James" is 1/(11*12)= 1/132.
 
Thank you very much.
 
Hey RTCNC,

I do agree that this question is similar to the one you asked yesterday, so for me that only highlights the fact that you should work with us step-by-step to truly understand these problems. If someone just solves it for you, you won't be able to easily transfer that to other problems. Why don't you post what you've tried and your thoughts on it? Do you agree with what I'm saying conceptually?
 

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