Review of Unit 3: events and the axioms, conditional probability and independence in mixed problems
Statistics Sec 3 Term 1, Units 1–3, Review
GoalReview Unit 3 in mixed problems: sample spaces and events, the axioms, conditional probability, trees and independence.
New words
which tool? · list outcomes for small spaces, a table for two features, a tree for draws in order, a Venn picture for overlapsindependence test · P(A ∩ B) = P(A) × P(B)exclusive is not independent · exclusive events with positive probabilities are dependent
Explanation
Unit 3 gave a toolbox, and a problem is mostly the choice of the right tool. For a small experiment, list the equally likely outcomes in a table or a tree, then P(A) = n(A) ÷ n(S). With two events, find the four regions of a Venn picture: P(A ∪ B) = P(A) + P(B) − P(A ∩ B) and P(A′) = 1 − P(A) come from the axioms. When the words “given that” appear, shrink the sample space: P(A | B) = P(A ∩ B) ÷ P(B). For draws in order, a tree multiplies along a path, and without replacement the second branches change. To test independence compare P(A ∩ B) with P(A) × P(B); remember that exclusive events with positive probabilities are never independent. The three examples that follow mix these tools.
Situation
Tool
one experiment with few outcomes
list or table of S; P(A) = n(A) ÷ n(S)
two events with an overlap
Venn picture with four regions; P(A ∪ B) = P(A) + P(B) − P(A ∩ B)
“given that …”
reduced sample space; P(A | B) = P(A ∩ B) ÷ P(B)
draws in order
tree: multiply along a path; without replacement the second branches change
“are they independent?”
compare P(A ∩ B) with P(A) × P(B)
Worked examples
1
2
3
H
H1
H2
H3
T
T1
T2
T3
A coin and a three-sector spinner (1, 2, 3, equally likely): S has 6 outcomes H1, H2, H3, T1, T2, T3. Let A = “head” and B = “the number is at least 2”. P(A) = 3/6, P(B) = 4/6 and A ∩ B = {H2, H3}, so P(A ∩ B) = 2/6 = 1/3 = 1/2 × 2/3: A and B are independent. P(A ∪ B) = 1/2 + 2/3 − 1/3 = 5/6, and counting H1, H2, H3, T2, T3 gives 5 outcomes of 6.
Robotics
Art
Chess
Total
Girls
18
30
12
60
Boys
12
10
18
40
Total
30
40
30
100
A two-way table. 100 pupils each join one club. P(girl | Art) = 30/40 = 3/4, but P(Art | girl) = 30/60 = 1/2. Test independence: P(girl ∩ Robotics) = 18/100 = 0.18 = 0.6 × 0.3, so “girl” and “Robotics” are independent. But P(girl ∩ Art) = 0.30 while 0.6 × 0.4 = 0.24, so “girl” and “Art” are dependent. “Robotics” and “Art” are exclusive (one club each) and have positive probabilities, so they are dependent.
A tree. A bag holds 4 blue and 2 orange counters; two are drawn without replacement. P(BB) = 4/6 × 3/5 = 2/5; P(OO) = 2/6 × 1/5 = 1/15; one of each colour = 2 × 4/6 × 2/5 = 8/15. A conditional question: P(first blue | second orange) = P(B then O) ÷ P(second O) = (4/15) ÷ (4/15 + 1/15) = 4/5.
Class activity
Make up a small probability problem of your own that needs two tools, for example a table and a conditional probability, or a tree and an independence test. Write the question on one side of a card and the full solution on the other, then swap cards with a classmate and solve each other’s.
Practice
1
P(A) = 0.55, P(B) = 0.4 and P(A ∪ B) = 0.8. Find P(A ∩ B), P(A only), P(neither) and P(A | B). Are A and B independent?
P(A ∩ B) = 0.55 + 0.4 − 0.8 = 0.15; P(A only) = 0.40; P(neither) = 0.2; P(A | B) = 0.15 ÷ 0.4 = 0.375. Not independent: 0.55 × 0.4 = 0.22, not 0.15.
2
Two dice are thrown. A = “the sum is 7” and B = “the first die is odd”. Are A and B independent?
P(A) = 6/36 = 1/6 and P(B) = 1/2. A ∩ B = {(1, 6), (3, 4), (5, 2)}, so P(A ∩ B) = 3/36 = 1/12 = 1/6 × 1/2. Independent.
3
In a class of 36 pupils, 20 play chess, 15 do art and 6 do both. One pupil is chosen at random. Find P(chess | art), P(art | chess) and P(neither).
P(chess | art) = 6/15 = 2/5. P(art | chess) = 6/20 = 3/10. At least one: 20 + 15 − 6 = 29, so P(neither) = 7/36.
4
Five cards numbered 1 to 5; two are drawn without replacement. Find P(both even), P(both odd) and P(the sum is even).
Both even (2, 4): 2/5 × 1/4 = 1/10. Both odd (1, 3, 5): 3/5 × 2/4 = 3/10. The sum is even exactly when both have the same parity: 1/10 + 3/10 = 2/5.
5
A and B are independent with P(A) = 0.3 and P(B) = 0.5. Find P(A ∪ B) and P(exactly one). What would P(A ∪ B) be if A and B were exclusive?
P(A ∩ B) = 0.15, so P(A ∪ B) = 0.3 + 0.5 − 0.15 = 0.65 and P(exactly one) = 0.65 − 0.15 = 0.5. If they were exclusive: 0.3 + 0.5 = 0.8.