Tags & Description
random process
Generates outcomes that are determined purely by chance.
probability
THIS of any outcome of a random process is a number between 0 and 1 that describes the proportion of times the outcome would occur in a very long A trial is one repetition of a random series of trials.
law of large numbers
Says that if we observe more and more trials of any random process, the proportion of times that a specific outcome occurs approaches its probability.
simulation
Imitates a random process in such a way that simulated outcomes are consistent with real-world outcomes.
probability model
A description of some random process that consists of two parts: a list of all possible outcomes and the probability for each outcome.
sample space
The list of all possible outcomes.
event
Any collection of outcomes from some random process.
Complement rule, Complement
THIS says that π(AαΆ)=1βπ(A), where AαΆ is the "THIS" of event A; that is, the event that A does not occur.
mutually exclusive (disjoint)
Two events A and B are "THIS" if they have no outcomes in common and so can never occur togetherβthat is, if π(A and B) = 0.
Addition rule for mutually exclusive events
For A and B says that π(A or B) = π(A) + π(B)
general addition rule
If A and B are any two events resulting from some random process, the "THIS" says that π(A or B) = π(A) + π(B) β π(A and B)
Venn diagram
Consists of one or more circles surrounded by a rectangle. Each circle represents an event. The region inside the rectangle represents the sample space of the random process.
intersection
The event βA and Bβ is called the "THIS" of events A and B. It consists of all outcomes that are common to both events, and is denoted Aβ©B.
union
The event βA or Bβ is called the "THIS" of events A and B. It consists of all outcomes that are in event A or event B, or both, and is denoted AβͺB.
conditional probability
The probability that one event happens given that another event is known to have happened. The "THIS" that event A happens given that event B has happened is denoted by π(A|B).
independent events
A and B are THIS if knowing whether or not one event has occurred does not change the probability that the other event will happen. In other words, events A and B are THIS if π(A|B) = π(A|BαΆ) = π(A). Alternatively, events A and B are THIS if π(B|A) = π(B|AαΆ) = π(B)
general multiplication rule
For any random process, the probability that events A and B both occur can be found using the "THIS": π(A and B)= π(Aβ©B) = π(A) * π(B|A)
tree diagram
Shows the sample space of a random process involving multiple stages. The probability of each outcome is shown on the corresponding branch of the tree. All probabilities after the first stage are conditional probabilities.
Multiplication rule for independent events
If A and B are independent events, the probability that A and B both occur is π(A and B) = π(Aβ©B) = π(A) * π(B)