Table of contents
- 1. Intro to Stats and Collecting Data55m
- 2. Describing Data with Tables and Graphs1h 55m
- 3. Describing Data Numerically1h 45m
- 4. Probability2h 16m
- 5. Binomial Distribution & Discrete Random Variables2h 33m
- 6. Normal Distribution and Continuous Random Variables1h 38m
- 7. Sampling Distributions & Confidence Intervals: Mean1h 3m
- 8. Sampling Distributions & Confidence Intervals: Proportion1h 12m
- 9. Hypothesis Testing for One Sample1h 1m
- 10. Hypothesis Testing for Two Samples2h 8m
- 11. Correlation48m
- 12. Regression1h 4m
- 13. Chi-Square Tests & Goodness of Fit1h 20m
- 14. ANOVA1h 0m
4. Probability
Complements
Problem 3.1.23
Textbook Question
Finding the Probability of an Event In Exercises 21-24, the probability that an event will not happen is given. Find the probability that the event will happen.
23. P(E')=3/4

1
Step 1: Understand the problem. The probability of the complement of an event, denoted as P(E'), is given as 3/4. You are tasked with finding the probability of the event itself, denoted as P(E).
Step 2: Recall the relationship between the probability of an event and its complement. The sum of the probabilities of an event and its complement is always equal to 1. Mathematically, this is expressed as: .
Step 3: Substitute the given value of P(E') into the equation. Replace P(E') with 3/4 in the formula: .
Step 4: Solve for P(E). Rearrange the equation to isolate P(E) on one side: .
Step 5: Simplify the expression to find the probability of the event happening. Perform the subtraction: . This will give you the final probability value.

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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Probability of an Event
Probability is a measure of the likelihood that a specific event will occur, expressed as a number between 0 and 1. An event with a probability of 0 means it will not happen, while a probability of 1 indicates certainty. Understanding how to calculate the probability of an event is fundamental in statistics, as it allows for predictions and informed decision-making.
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Complementary Events
Complementary events are two outcomes of a single event where one event occurs if and only if the other does not. For any event E, the probability of its complement E' (the event not happening) plus the probability of E must equal 1. This relationship is crucial for calculating probabilities, as it allows us to find the probability of an event by subtracting the probability of its complement from 1.
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Calculating Probability from Complements
To find the probability of an event occurring when given the probability of it not occurring, you can use the formula P(E) = 1 - P(E'). In the context of the question, if P(E') = 3/4, then P(E) can be calculated as 1 - 3/4, which equals 1/4. This method is a straightforward approach to solving probability problems involving complementary events.
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