Probability & Counting Principles
Probability & Counting Principles
Topic 4. PROBABILITY
Sample Space
Fundamental Principle of Counting
Permutations
Combinations
Probability of an Event
Additive Rules
Conditional Probability
Bayes’ Rule
Objectives
Count efficiently by applying the
Fundamental Principle of Counting
Count using permutation and combination.
Determine the probability of a given event.
Apply the different laws of probability.
Interpret probability values.
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Problem
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Solution:
Hundredth Digit Tenth Digit Unit Digit Number
2 3 123
1
3 2 132
1 3 213
2
3 1 231
1 2 312
3
2 1 321
Answer: 6
numbers
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MULTIPLICATION RULE
If one thing can be
done in n1 ways and a
second thing can be
done in n2 ways, then
the sequence of things
can be done together in
n1n2 ways.
Problem
Solution:
3 x 2 x 1 = 6 numbers
(H) (T) (U)
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Problem
A telephone company wants to set up a
system for a certain province. Company
officials are thinking of using a system where
each telephone number has 6 digits: the first
two digits starting with 44, 45, 47, 49 and the
last 4 digits being any number from 1 to 9.
What is the largest number of customers that
the system can service?
Solution:
1 x 4 x 9 x 9 x 9 x 9 = 26,244 nos.
Problem
If the call letters of radio stations must
begin with the letter D, the second
must be W, X, Y, or Z, while the third
and fourth may be any letter, how
many different stations can there be if:
a)repetition of a letter is not allowed
b) repetitions are allowed
Solution:
a) 1 x 4 x 24 x 23 = 2,208 stations
b) 1 x 4 x 26 x 26 = 2,704 stations
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Problem
Solution:
2 x 6 x 52 = 624 results
(coin) (die) (card)
PERMUTATION
Other rules on counting deal with the
number of arrangements of items
with regard to the order of the items.
A permutation is a group of items
where the composition of the group
and the order of the items within the
group are both important.
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""
# # "$ ! ! =
# " ! ! !"
Note:
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Problem
Solution
Using Tree Diagram
Answer: 6
combination
s
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3 x 2 = 6 combinations
(1st Letter) (2nd Letter) (Answer)
"" where n = 3
# # "$ ! ! =
# " ! ! !" k=2
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Problem
There are 7 children in a room, and there
are 4 seats in a row. Children are to be
assigned to these seats.
Solution
""
a) # # "$ ! ! = where n=7
# " ! ! !" k=4
$" #!
! %$&#! = =
% $ ! # !" "!
% ' & % " $ = !"# ! "#$
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"" $"
# # "$ ! ! = =
# " ! ! !" %$ ! #!"
% ( ' &% $ = !"# ! "#$
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Problem
In how many ways can 4 people be
seated in a circle? Here any
arrangement which can be obtained
from a given arrangement by a
rotation is considered identical to the
given one.
Solution
Let 4 persons be A, B, C, and D.
Arrangement I Arrangement II
A A
D B D C
C Arrangement III B
D
C A
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3 people(n) 3 positions(k)
""
# # "$ ! ! =
# " ! ! !"
#"
! $#%#! =
$# ! #!"
P(3,3) = 6 ways
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$!
% $ $ # $ $ # # " #! " " =
#! " ! !!
Problem
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Solution
n =8 "!
# $ " # "$ ! " " =
j = 3 a’s !!
#!
! &#%# & " $ $ =
"!
! (& '& ( ) % % = !"#$
Problem
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Solution
$!
n =8 % $ $ # $$ # # " #! " " =
j = 2 c’s #! " !!!
k = 2 l’s #!
! &#%# & " % " % " $ $ =
l = 2 u’s "!"!"!
! '% &% ' ( & ( & ( $ $ = !"#"
n =6 #!
! & #%# & " % " $ $ =
k = 2 l’s "!"!
l = 2 u’s ! ' % & % ' ( & ( $ $ = !"#
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CALCULUS
b) begin and end w/ letter L
L_ _ _ _ _ _L (Arrange 6 letters)
#!
n =6 ! & #%# & " % " $ $ =
k = 2 c’s "!"!
l = 2 u’s ! ' % & % ' ( & ( $ $ = !"#
CALCULUS
c) begin and end w/ letter U
U_ _ _ _ _ _U (Arrange 6 letters)
#!
n =6 ! & #%# & " % " $ $ =
k = 2 c’s "!"!
l = 2 l’s ! ' % & % ' ( & ( $ $ = !"#
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Summary:
C_ _ _ _ _ _C 180
L_ _ _ _ _ _L 180
U_ _ _ _ _ _U 180
Total No. of Ways: 540 ways
COMBINATION
A combination is a group of objects
where the composition of the group, but
not the order, is important. The number
of combinations of n objects taken k at a
time, C(n,k), is given by:
"!
# # "$ ! " =
# " ! ! "! ! !
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Problem
An instructor has prepared a set of 12
problems and will include 8 of these
problems in an examination. How many
examinations can be formed?
"!
# # "$ ! " =
n = 12
# " ! ! "! ! !
k=8 $%!
! ($%'"& = = !"#
#! "!
Problem
There are twenty points in a plane, no
three of which are collinear. How many
different line segments can be drawn on
these points?
"!
# # "$ ! " =
# " ! ! "! ! !
"$!
n = 20 ! % "$&"# = = !"#
k=2 % "$ ! "#! "!
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Problem
3 possible groupings:
1) 2 women + 4 men
2) 3 women + 3 men
3) 4 women + 2 men
C (4,2) x C (7,4)
#! $!
No. of ways = x = 210
"! "! #! "!
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C (4,3) x C (7,3)
$! $!
No. of ways = x = 140
#! "! #! "!
C (4,4) x C (7,2)
"! x $!
No. of ways = = 21
#! "! #! "!
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Summary
Problem
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Solution
# red balls = 6
# white balls = 4
a) 2 white balls
#!
! & #% " $ = = 6 ways
"! "!
# red balls = 6
# white balls = 4
&! $!
" )&("' ! " ) $("' = !
%! "! #! "!
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# red balls = 6
# white balls = 4
# red balls = 6
# white balls = 4
d) any 2 balls
$%!
! ($%'"& =
#! "!
% (&' % $ # = !" ! "#$
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Elementary Probability
A statistical experiment is an
activity in which the outcomes when
counted or measured can generate
data.
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Problem
If we want to determine the chances
that a family with two children will have
at least one boy, how would we list the
set of possible outcomes?
nE = 3
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Problem
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Probability of an Event
The probability of an event is a number
that estimates the chances that the
event will happen.
Probability values are between 0 and 1.
If an event has a probability of 0, its
occurrence is an impossibility.
On the other hand, if an event has a
probability of 1, its occurrence is a
certainty.
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P(E) = k =
nE
n nS
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Example
E2 = { 1, 3, 5 }
nE2 = 3
nE2 3
P(E2 ) =
nS
=
6
= 50%
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E3 = { 3, 4, 5, 6 }
nE3 = 4
nE4 4
P(E3 ) =
nS
=
6
= 67%
Events E1 and E3 ?
Answer: JOINT
Events E2 and E3 ?
Answer: JOINT
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Problem
Solution
nS = 1500
E1 = event of winning a prize
E2 = event of not winning a prize
%!
nE1 = 10 " ( !% ' = = ! $!!"#
%&!!
%'!$
nE2 = 1490 ") !* ( = = $ #!!""
%&$$
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Problem
*.&F%3.34,'F, ! " #$ #%
TF35#','F, ! " # (
0FN.O % !$ #% %$
*.&F%3.34,'F, ! " #$ #%
TF35#','F, ! " # (
0FN.O % !$ #% %$
%$
" ' !( & = = " #!"
$"
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*.&F%3.34,'F, ! " #$ #%
TF35#','F, ! " # (
0FN.O % !$ #% %$
*.&F%3.34,'F, ! " #$ #%
TF35#','F, ! " # (
0FN.O % !$ #% %$
$"
" & !' % = = " #!"
!"
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*.&F%3.34,'F, ! " #$ #%
TF35#','F, ! " # (
0FN.O % !$ #% %$
%
" ' !% & = = !#!"
$!
Additive Rules
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Problem
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Solution
nA = 8 #
" % !$ =
nS = 50 !"
nB = 5 !
"$!# =
nS = 50 !"
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Problem
Solution
2
3 2 French
Chinese
3 2 1
1
English
# " !!
" %! $ = # $" ! # = #$" ! ! # =
!" !" !"
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Problem
Solution
$% !
nS = C(52, 4) = = 270,725
"# ! " !
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Conditional Probability
The probability that an event B occurs
when it is known that some event A has
occurred is called a conditional
probability.
Here, the probability of a particular
outcome in the second event cannot be
determined until the outcome of the first
event is known.
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"" ! #!
""# ! =
! " " !!
Problem
A box contains 1 black and 2 red balls.
Two balls are drawn one after the other.
What is the probability that the first ball
is black and the second ball is red?
##" !? = !
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Solution
B = event that first ball is black
"
" "! ! =
!
" = event that 2nd ball is red if the
! 1st ball is black
!
#"" ! =
! !
""! #!
""# ! =
! ""!!
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Problem
A company’s records show the
following distribution of its workers:
Solution
HS = event that worker is a HS graduate
R = event that worker has a regular status
$## ?=!
!"
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#$ #$
# " !" ! = $ " "# ! ! =
!"! !"!
# " !" $ !
#"$ !=
!" # " !" !
#$
25
$"# ! = !"!
#$ = = 0.532
!" 47
!"!
Problem
nS = 6 x 6 = 36
A = event that sum is 6
B = event that 2 comes up
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Solution
# #
" % !$ = #% " !$ =
!" !"
#
"#( ! ) = " ""!"!!# ! = !"
#
!"
( !) = !"
#"
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Problem
Solution
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BAYES’ RULE
Theorem of Total Probability
If when event E happens, one of the
mutually exclusive events E1, E2, …En
must happen, then:
# " " ! = # " "% ! # &$ " #! + # " " $ ! # &$ " #! + #### + # " " ! ! # &$ " #!
% "% " % "$ " % "! "
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Problem
Anna holds a box of 3 red and 2 white
balls.
Bobby has a box of 4 red and 1 white
balls.
We play a game of tossing a coin.
If heads come up, we pick a ball from
Anna’s box; if tails, we pick a ball from
Bobby’s. Find the probability that a white
ball is chosen.
Solution
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"
!
"
! "
!
"
" !
!
"
!
( A ) + # " ! ! # (" ! )
# "" ! = # " A ! # "
& " #& " # & " # &"# #
" "! ! = $ ! $ ! + $ ! $ ! =
% ! "% ! " % ! " % ! " !"
Problem
Three machines A, B, and C produce respectively
50%, 30% and 20% of the total number of items of
a factory. The percentage of defective output of
these machines are 3%, 4% and 5% respectively.
a) If an item is selected at random, find the
probability that the item is defective.
b) If an item selected at random is found to
be defected, what is the probability that
it comes from machine A ?
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Solution
0.97 Good
Machine A
0.03 Defective
0.50
0.96 Good
0.30 Machine B
0.04 Defective
0.20
0.95 Good
Machine C
0.05 Defective
#? "#!? = !
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( !)= !
A? # "
"(# ! )
" (# ) =
! " "! !
" ( # )" (! )
"( # )= #
! " "! !
#"( !) = 0.5(0.03)
0.037
= 0.405
Problem
• Three members of a private country club have been
nominated for the office of the president. The
probability that Mr. Adams will be elected is 0.3,
the probability that Mr. Brown will be elected is 0.5,
and the probability that Ms. Cooper will be elected
is 0.2. Should Mr. Adams be elected, the
probability for an increase in membership fees is
0.8. Should Mr. Brown or Ms. Cooper be elected,
the corresponding probabilities for an increase in
fees are 0.1 and 0.4. What is the probability that
there will be an increase in membership fees?
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Problem
• With reference to the previous example, if
someone is considering joining the club but
delays his decision for several weeks only
to find out that the fees have been
increased, what is the probability that Ms.
Cooper was elected president of the club?
Problem
• A large industrial firm uses 3 local motels to provide
overnight accommodations for its clients. From past
experience it is known that 20% of the clients are assigned
rooms at the Ramada Inn, 50% at the Sheraton, and 30%
at the Lakeview Motor Lodge. If the plumbing is faulty in
5% of the rooms at the Ramada Inn, in 4% of the rooms at
the Sheraton, and in 8% of the rooms at the Lakeview
Motor Lodge, what is the probability that
• (a) a client will be assigned a room with faulty plumbing?
0.054
• (b) a person with a room having faulty plumbing was
assigned accommodations at the Lakeview Motor Lodge?
4/9
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Problem
• A truth serum given to a suspect is known to be
90% reliable when the person is guilty and 99%
reliable when the person is innocent. In other
words, 10% of the guilty are judged innocent by
the serum and 1% of the innocent are judged
guilty. If the suspect was selected from a group
of suspects of which only 5% have ever
committed a crime, and the serum indicates that
he is guilty, what is the probability that he is
innocent?
Student
Activity
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Entrance
X Y
1 2 3 4 5
Proceed to Topic 5
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