Thursday, March 7, 2013

Simple Probability

Introduction to study simple probability

Probability is a measure if uncertainty. It is a mathematical measure of the chances of occurrence of a particular event. Calculation of probability involves two methods. One is the theoretical method and the other is the experimental method. I like to share this Probability in Statistics with you all through my article.


Study simple probability-Experimental probability:-


In the experimental method, a 'trial' is performed a certain number of times. Then all the occurred outcomes for each trial are listed. Suppose a coin is tossed hundred times. Each times it is tossed, the outcome will be either heads or tails. Out of hundred, the number of times the outcome is heads is noted, and the number of times the outcome is tails is noted. then the experimental probability of getting heads is given by,

P (heads) = number of times the outcome was heads/total number of trials performed.

for example, if

the number of times outcome is heads = 54

number of times the outcome is tails = 46

then experimental probability of getting heads is,

P (heads) = 54/100

= 0.54

which is nearly half.

And the experimental probability of getting tails is,

P (tails) = 46/100

= 0.46

which is also nearly half (½).

The experimental probability is also called empirical or statistical probability. Understanding free help with algebra 2 is always challenging for me but thanks to all math help websites to help me out.


Study simple probability-Theoretical probability:-


The second type of probability is the theoretical probability. In theoretical probability, it is assumed that the probabilities of all likely outcomes for a particular event are equal. For example, if the event is the tossing of a coin, the two likely outcomes are heads and tails. According to theoretical probability, the probability of getting a heads is equal to the probability of getting tails.

thus, P (heads) = P (tails).

Since P (heads) + P (tails) = 1,

Therefore, the Probability of each event is 1/2

When the number of trials in an experiment is very large, the experimental probability equals the theoretical probability, or they both are nearly equal.

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