Section 4-4 Multiplication Rule: Basics

Key Concept The basic multiplication rule is used for finding P(A and B), the probability that event A occurs in a first trial and event B occurs in a second trial. If the outcome of the first event A somehow affects the probability of the second event B, it is important to adjust the probability of B to reflect the occurrence of event A.

P(A and B) = P(event A occurs in a first trial and Notation P(A and B) = P(event A occurs in a first trial and event B occurs in a second trial) To differentiate between the addition rule and the multiplication rule, the addition rule will use the word ‘or’ - P(A or B) - , and the multiplication rule will use the word ‘and’ - P(A and B). Page 159 of Elementary Statistics, 10th Edition

Tree Diagrams A tree diagram is a picture of the possible outcomes of a procedure, shown as line segments emanating from one starting point. These diagrams are sometimes helpful in determining the number of possible outcomes in a sample space, if the number of possibilities is not too large.

Tree Diagrams This figure summarizes the possible outcomes for a true/false question followed by a multiple choice question. Note that there are 10 possible combinations.

Example 1: a.) Create a tree diagram for first tossing a coin and then rolling a die. Heads Tails

b) How many possible combinations exist? Example 1: b) How many possible combinations exist? Heads Tails

c) What is the probability of flipping Tails, and then rolling a four? Example 1: c) What is the probability of flipping Tails, and then rolling a four? Heads Tails

Conditional Probability Key Point We must adjust the probability of the second event to reflect the outcome of the first event.

Conditional Probability Important Principle The probability for the second event B should take into account the fact that the first event A has already occurred.

Notation for Conditional Probability P(B | A) represents the probability of event B occurring after it is assumed that event A has already occurred (read B | A as “B given A.”)

Dependent and Independent Two events A and B are independent if the occurrence of one does not affect the probability of the occurrence of the other. (Several events are similarly independent if the occurrence of any does not affect the probabilities of the occurrence of the others.) If A and B are not independent, they are said to be dependent. Page 162 of Elementary Statistics, 10th Edition

Dependent Events Two events are dependent if the occurrence of one of them affects the probability of the occurrence of the other, but this does not necessarily mean that one of the events is a cause of the other. Page 162 of Elementary Statistics, 10th Edition

Example 2: A bag contains 8 yellow marbles, 4 blue marbles and 1 white marble. Billy found the probability of choosing a blue marble, and then another blue marble. In doing so, Billy replaced the first blue marble. Margo also found the probability of choosing a blue marble, and then another blue marble. She did not replace the first blue marble. Which situation is a dependent event?

Treating Dependent Events as Independent Some calculations are cumbersome, but they can be made manageable by using the common practice of treating events as independent when small samples are drawn from large populations. In such cases, it is rare to select the same item twice. Since independent events where the probability is the same for each event is much easier to compute (using exponential notation) than dependent events where each probability fraction will be different, the rule for small samples and large population is often used by pollsters. Page 163 of Elementary Statistics, 10th Edition

The 5% Guideline for Cumbersome Calculations If a sample size is no more than 5% of the size of the population, treat the selections as being independent (even if the selections are made without replacement, so they are technically dependent). Since independent events where the probability is the same for each event is much easier to compute (using exponential notation) than dependent events where each probability fraction will be different, the rule for small samples and large population is often used by pollsters. Page 163 of Elementary Statistics, 10th Edition

Example 3: For the given pair of events, classify them as independent or dependent. If the two events are technically dependent but can be treated as if they are independent according to the 5% guideline, consider them to be independent. Randomly selecting a TV viewer who is watching Saturday Night Live. Randomly selecting a second TV viewer who is watching Saturday Night Live.

Example 4: For the given pair of events, classify them as independent or dependent. If the two events are technically dependent but can be treated as if they are independent according to the 5% guideline, consider them to be independent. Wearing plaid shorts with black socks and sandals. Asking someone on a date and getting a positive response.

Formal Multiplication Rule P(A and B) = P(A) • P(B | A) *Note that if A and B are independent events, P(B | A) is really the same as P(B).

Intuitive Multiplication Rule When finding the probability that event A occurs in one trial and event B occurs in the next trial, multiply the probability of event A by the probability of event B, but be sure that the probability of event B takes into account the previous occurrence of event A. Many students find that they understand the multiplication rule more intuitively than by using the formal rule and formula. Example on page 162 of Elementary Statistics, 10th Edition

Applying the Multiplication Rule Be sure to find the probability of event B assuming that event A has already occurred.

Caution When applying the multiplication rule, always consider whether the events are independent or dependent, and adjust the calculations accordingly.

a) Assume that the selections are made with replacement. Example 5: Use the data in the following table, which summarizes blood groups and Rh types for 100 subjects. These values may vary in different regions according to the ethnicity of the population. If 2 of the 100 subjects are randomly selected, find the probability that they are both group O and type Rh+. a) Assume that the selections are made with replacement. Group O A B AB Type Rh+ 39 35 8 4 Rh– 6 5 2 1

b) Assume that the selections are made without replacement. Example 5: Use the data in the following table, which summarizes blood groups and Rh types for 100 subjects. These values may vary in different regions according to the ethnicity of the population. If 2 of the 100 subjects are randomly selected, find the probability that they are both group O and type Rh+. b) Assume that the selections are made without replacement. Group O A B AB Type Rh+ 39 35 8 4 Rh– 6 5 2 1

Multiplication Rule for Several Events In general, the probability of any sequence of independent events is simply the product of their corresponding probabilities.

Group O A B AB Type Rh+ 39 35 8 4 Rh– 6 5 2 1 Example 6: Use the data in the following table, which summarizes blood groups and Rh types for 100 subjects. These values may vary in different regions according to the ethnicity of the population. People with blood that is group O and type Rh– are considered to be universal donors, because they can give blood to anyone. If 4 of the 100 subjects are randomly selected, find the probability that they are all universal donors. a) Assume that the selections are made with replacement. Group O A B AB Type Rh+ 39 35 8 4 Rh– 6 5 2 1

Group O A B AB Type Rh+ 39 35 8 4 Rh– 6 5 2 1 Example 6: Use the data in the following table, which summarizes blood groups and Rh types for 100 subjects. These values may vary in different regions according to the ethnicity of the population. People with blood that is group O and type Rh– are considered to be universal donors, because they can give blood to anyone. If 4 of the 100 subjects are randomly selected, find the probability that they are all universal donors. b) Assume that the selections are made without replacement. Group O A B AB Type Rh+ 39 35 8 4 Rh– 6 5 2 1

Principle of Redundancy One design feature contributing to reliability is the use of redundancy, whereby critical components are duplicated so that if one fails, the other will work. For example, single-engine aircraft now have two independent electrical systems so that if one electrical system fails, the other can continue to work so that the engine does not fail. Since independent events where the probability is the same for each event is much easier to compute (using exponential notation) than dependent events where each probability fraction will be different, the rule for small samples and large population is often used by pollsters. Page 163 of Elementary Statistics, 10th Edition

Summary of Fundamentals *In the addition rule, the word “or” in P(A or B) suggests addition. Add P(A) and P(B), being careful to add in such a way that every outcome is counted only once. *In the multiplication rule, the word “and” in P(A and B) suggests multiplication. Multiply P(A) and P(B), but be sure that the probability of event B takes into account the previous occurrence of event A.

Example 7: A quick quiz consists of a true/false question followed by a multiple-choice question with four possible answers (a, b, c, d). An unprepared student makes random guesses for both answers. a) Consider the event of being correct with the first guess and the event of being correct with the second guess. Are those two events independent? b) What is the probability that both answers are correct?

Example 7: A quick quiz consists of a true/false question followed by a multiple-choice question with four possible answers (a, b, c, d). An unprepared student makes random guesses for both answers. c) Based on the results, does guessing appear to be a good strategy?

Example 8: The Wheeling Tire Company produced a batch of 5000 tires that includes exactly 200 that are defective. a) If 4 tires are randomly selected for installation on a car, what is the probability that they are all good?

Example 8: The Wheeling Tire Company produced a batch of 5000 tires that includes exactly 200 that are defective. b) If 100 tires are randomly selected for shipment to an outlet, what is the probability that they are all good? Should this outlet plan to deal with defective tires returned by consumers?

Example 9: The principle of redundancy is used when system reliability is improved through redundant or backup components. Assume that your alarm clock has a 0.9 probability of working on any given morning. a) What is the probability that your alarm clock will not work on the morning of an important exam? b) If you have two such alarm clocks, what is the probability that they both fail on the morning of an important exam?

Example 9 continued: The principle of redundancy is used when system reliability is improved through redundant or backup components. Assume that your alarm clock has a 0.9 probability of working on any given morning. c) With one alarm clock, you have a 0.9 probability of being awakened. What is the probability of being awakened if you have two alarm clocks?

Example 9 continued: The principle of redundancy is used when system reliability is improved through redundant or backup components. Assume that your alarm clock has a 0.9 probability of working on any given morning. d) Does a second alarm clock result in greatly improved reliability?