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| previous outcome and cannot be predicted with certainty. | | previous outcome and cannot be predicted with certainty. |
| | | |
− | Examples | + | Examples of a Random experiment include: |
− | of a Random experiment include: | + | |
| The tossing of a coin. The experiment can yield two possible outcomes, | | The tossing of a coin. The experiment can yield two possible outcomes, |
| heads or tails. | | heads or tails. |
| + | |
| The roll of a die. The experiment can yield six possible outcomes, this | | The roll of a die. The experiment can yield six possible outcomes, this |
| outcome is the number 1 to 6 as the die faces are labelled. | | outcome is the number 1 to 6 as the die faces are labelled. |
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| A complete list of all possible outcomes of a random experiment is | | A complete list of all possible outcomes of a random experiment is |
| called '''''sample space''''' or possibility space and is denoted by S | | called '''''sample space''''' or possibility space and is denoted by S |
| + | |
| + | In the coin tossing activity S = {heads, tails} and in the dice throwing |
| + | activity S = {1,2,3,4,5,6}. |
| + | |
| + | Suppose we toss a coin in the air and note down the result each time. If we |
| + | repeat this exercise say 10 times and note down the result each |
| + | time. Each toss of a coin is called a '''trial'''. |
| + | |
| + | So, a trial is an action which results in one or several outcomes. The |
| + | possible '''outcomes''' when we toss a coin are Head and Tail. Getting a head in a |
| + | particular trial is an '''event''' with a particular outcome head. |
| + | |
| + | Now if we say let n be the number of trials, then the '''experimental |
| + | probability P(E)''' of an event E happening is given by |
| + | |
| + | [[Image:KOER%20Probability,%20Permutations%20and%20Combinations_html_68e91ef4.gif]] |
| + | |
| + | The probability of E an event happening is always between 0 and 1 including 0 and 1, |
| + | where 0 means it is impossible for the event to occur and 1 means its certain to occur. |
| + | The |
| + | '''theoretical |
| + | probability''' |
| + | (also called classical probability) of an event E, written as P(E), |
| + | where we assume that the outcome of the events are ''equally |
| + | likely'' |
| + | |
| + | [[Image:KOER%20Probability,%20Permutations%20and%20Combinations_html_48cf88f6.gif]] |
| + | |
| + | In the case of the coin tossing , |
| + | |
| + | [[Image:KOER%20Probability,%20Permutations%20and%20Combinations_html_m7f38b0db.gif]] |
| + | |
| + | '''Experimental probability''' |
| + | |
| + | The chances of something happening, based on |
| + | repeated testing and observing results. It is the ratio of the number |
| + | of times an event occurred to the number of times tested. For |
| + | example, to find the experimental probability of winning a game, one |
| + | must play the game many times, then divide the number of games won by |
| + | the total number of games played '''P''''''robability''' |
| + | |
| + | The measure of how likely it is for an event to |
| + | occur. The probability of an event is always a number between zero |
| + | and 100%. The meaning (interpretation) of probability is the subject |
| + | of theories of probability. However, any rule for assigning |
| + | probabilities to events has to satisfy the axioms of probability |
| + | |
| + | '''Random number generators''' |
| + | |
| + | A device used to produce a selection of numbers in |
| + | a fair manner, in no particular order and with no favour being given |
| + | to any numbers. Examples include dice, spinners, coins, and computer |
| + | programs designed to randomly pick numbers |
| + | |
| + | '''Theoretical probability''' |
| + | |
| + | The chances of events happening as determined by |
| + | calculating results that would occur under ideal circumstances. For |
| + | example, the theoretical probability of rolling a 4 on a four-sided |
| + | die is 1/4 or 25%, because there is one chance in four to roll a 4, |
| + | and under ideal circumstances one out of every four rolls would be a |
| + | 4. Contrast with experimental probability |
| | | |
| = Textbook = | | = Textbook = |