Probability~~ (1 Viewer)

YannY

Member
Joined
Aug 28, 2007
Messages
190
Gender
Male
HSC
2008
In a game, two players take turns at drawing, and immediately replacing, a marble from a bag
containing two green and three red marbles. The game is won by player A drawing a green marble, or
player B drawing a red marble. Player A draws first. Find the probability that:

i. A wins on her first draw;
ii. B wins on her first draw;
iii. A wins in less than four of her turns;
iv. A wins eventually.¤

The first three questions are easy but the last question iv brings up some questions for me.

My question is what does eventually mean?

The answer is 10/19

From this i concluded that eventually means the chance it can win after the first loss i.e he losses first but what is the possibility that he will win if B will always lose.

Am i right or was what i just said far too ambigious?
 

Iruka

Member
Joined
Jan 25, 2006
Messages
544
Gender
Undisclosed
HSC
N/A
How did you answer the third part?

I calculated the probability of A winning within 4 turns by adding the probability that she wins on the first turn + probability she wins the second (obviously, this means that nobody wins the first round) + probability she wins the third turn.

Now if you do this, you will see a pattern emerging (actually, you will see a geometric sequence is emerging). To calculate the probability of A winning eventually (i.e., after an unspecified number of turns), you have to find the limiting sum of this geometric sequence.
 

Trebla

Administrator
Administrator
Joined
Feb 16, 2005
Messages
8,139
Gender
Male
HSC
2006
This means you add up ALL possibilities:

P(A wins on each draw) = 2/5
P(B does not win on each draw) = 3/5
P(B does not win on each draw) = 2/5

So A can win on 1st, 3rd, 5th draw etc:
P(A wins on 1st draw) = 2/5
P(A wins on 3rd draw) = (3/5)(2/5)(2/5) = (2/5)2(3/5)
P(A wins on 5th draw) = (3/5)(2/5)(3/5)(2/5)(2/5) = (2/5)3(3/5)2
P(A wins on 7th draw) = (3/5)(2/5)(3/5)(2/5)(3/5)(2/5)(2/5) = (2/5)4(3/5)3
etc...
Sum them up to add all possible outcomes (call this S):
S = 2/5 + (2/5)2(3/5) + (2/5)3(3/5)2 + (2/5)4(3/5)3 + .........
This is an infinite sum of a geometric series, with a = (2/5) and r = (3/5)(2/5) so
S = (2/5) / [1 - (2/5)(3/5)]
= (2/5) / [19/25]
= 10/19
 

YannY

Member
Joined
Aug 28, 2007
Messages
190
Gender
Male
HSC
2008
Ah thanks i got my numbers stuffed up



The third is done by 2/5+(2/5)^2.(3/5)+(2/5)^3.(3/5)^2

Because if he is to win in less than 4 turns he has to win the first three wins and also B has to lose in the first three turns so add up the probability he wins on the first turn, second turn and finally the third turn.
 

undalay

Active Member
Joined
Dec 14, 2006
Messages
1,002
Location
Ashfield
Gender
Male
HSC
2008
i did this question b4. Had 2 ask charles for answersl oool
 

aakash

Member
Joined
Mar 8, 2006
Messages
72
Location
Blacktown
Gender
Male
HSC
2006
Another way of doing this:
Let probability that A eventually wins = y

y = 2/5 + ( 3/5 * 2/5 * y)
hence, y=10/19

explanation: probability that A eventually wins = P (he wins in 1st trail) + P( A looses in 1st trial) * P(B looses in 1st trial) * P(A eventually wins).

Basically, after both A and B looses in the 1st trial, we are at the "beginning of the process" from where the probability that A eventually wins is simply = y.
 
Last edited:

aakash

Member
Joined
Mar 8, 2006
Messages
72
Location
Blacktown
Gender
Male
HSC
2006
Another good question:

4000 tickets are sold in a raffle in which there are ten prizes. If you buy 40 tickets, find the probability that:

1) You win 1 prize
2) You win 10 prizes
3) You win no prizes
 

undalay

Active Member
Joined
Dec 14, 2006
Messages
1,002
Location
Ashfield
Gender
Male
HSC
2008
aakash said:
Another way of doing this:
Let probability that A eventually wins = y

y = 2/5 + ( 3/5 * 2/5 * y)
hence, y=10/19

explanation: probability that A eventually wins = P (he wins in 1st trail) + P( A looses in 1st trial) * P(B looses in 1st trial) * P(A eventually wins).

Basically, after both A and B looses in the 1st trial, we are at the "beginning of the process" from where the probability that A eventually wins is simply = y.
that's crazy ) :
 

undalay

Active Member
Joined
Dec 14, 2006
Messages
1,002
Location
Ashfield
Gender
Male
HSC
2008
aakash said:
Another good question:

4000 tickets are sold in a raffle in which there are ten prizes. If you buy 40 tickets, find the probability that:

1) You win 1 prize
2) You win 10 prizes
3) You win no prizes
2)
40!3990!
---------------------
4000!30!

3)
(3960)^ 10 x 3990!
------------------------
4000!

how do you do number 1) (in a short way)
 
Last edited:

qqmore

Member
Joined
Feb 8, 2007
Messages
78
Gender
Undisclosed
HSC
2008
aakash said:
Another good question:

4000 tickets are sold in a raffle in which there are ten prizes. If you buy 40 tickets, find the probability that:

1) You win 1 prize
2) You win 10 prizes
3) You win no prizes
Could you use binomial probability?

p(win) = 1/100
p(not win) = 99/100

1) P(win = 1) = 10C1 * (1/100) * (99/100)^9

2) P(win = 10 ) = (1/100)^10

3) P (win = 0 ) = (99/100)^10
 

undalay

Active Member
Joined
Dec 14, 2006
Messages
1,002
Location
Ashfield
Gender
Male
HSC
2008
qqmore said:
Could you use binomial probability?

p(win) = 1/100
p(not win) = 99/100

1) P(win = 1) = 10C1 * (1/100) * (99/100)^9

2) P(win = 10 ) = (1/100)^10

3) P (win = 0 ) = (99/100)^10
No because ur assuming replacement
 

aakash

Member
Joined
Mar 8, 2006
Messages
72
Location
Blacktown
Gender
Male
HSC
2006
I dont think Part 1 can be done in a shorter way...
and i got something else for 3
 

Users Who Are Viewing This Thread (Users: 0, Guests: 1)

Top