Probability Flashcards
What is a random experiment?
a process that results in a number of possible outcomes, none of which can be predicted with certainty;
What is the sample space?
sample space of a random experiment is a list of all possible outcomes
E.g. roll a die: sample space:
S={1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6}.
How can variance and standard deviation be used in real life?
Higher standard deviation/variance = higher return
What is a mutually exclusive outcome?
When two events cannot occur at the same time in a single trial
Therefore P(A) x P(B) does not equal to P(AxB)
What is a collectively exhaustive outcome?
one of the events must occur AKA one or the other
eg. heads and tails in a coin toss is collectively exhaustive because one of them must occur. If head does not occur, tails must occur
What is the probability of sample space?
P(S) =1
What is P(A|B)?
Conditional probability that A occurs, given that B has occurred:
What is P(A or B) = P(A U B) = P(A union with B)?
A occurs, or B occurs, or both occur
P(A or B) = P(A) or P(B) - P(A and B)
What is P(A and B) = P(A ∩ B) = P(A intersection with B) ?
A and B both occur
What is another way to express P(A)?
P(A) = P(A∩B) + P(A ∩Bc)
What is another way to express P(A or B)?
P(A or B)=P(A)+P(B)-P(A and B)
How to test if two events are independent?
P(A|B)=P(A) or P(B|A)=P(B)
P(A and B) = P(A)*P(B)
Prove that P(A|B) = P(A)
= [P(A and B)]/P(B)
=[P(A)*P(B)] /P(B)
=P(A)
what is marginal probability
Computed by adding across rows or down columns - calculated in the margins of the table
Prove the complement rule
Given an event A and its complement, Ā, so that A+ Ā=S;
Know that P(S)=1;
so P(A)+P(Ā)=1;
therefore P(Ā)=1-P(A)
Another way to express P(A|B)
another way to express P(B|A)
P(A|B) = P(A and B)/ P(B)
P(B|A) = P(B and A)/ P(A)
another way to express P(A and B)
prove
as P(A|B) = P(A and B) / P(B)
P(A and B) = P(A|B) x P(B)
formula for expected value
random variable example
Imagine tossing three unbiased coins.
S= {HHH, HHT, HTH, THH, HTT, THT, TTH, TTT)
8 equally likely outcomes.
Let X = number of heads that occur.
X can take values 0, 1, 2, 3.
how to denote random variable and actual realised values?
Denote random variables (X, Y, etc) in upper case
Denote actual realised values (x, y etc) in lower case
Example: X is the random variable that can take values 0, 1, 2, 3.
Actually perform experiment, find the pattern HTT. Then x=1.
what is a discrete random variable?
discrete random variable has a countable number of possible values, e.g. number of heads, number of sales etc.
Does not have to be finite; but values can be strictly ordered.
based on counting process
what is a continuous variable?
continuous random variable has an infinite number of possible values
based on measuring process
what are features of probability distribution?
Sum of proabilities must equal 1
P(X=x)
what are frequentist probabilities?
Probabilities associated with r.v.s are often associated with relative frequencies.
E.g. interested in number of photocopiers sold by different firms. Estimate probabilities from frequencies
what is the probability disturibution for a discrete variable?
mutually exclusive list of all possible numerical outcomes along with probability of occurence of each outcome