huda wrote:
The probability of event X occurring is the same as the probability of event Y occurring. The events occur independently of each other.
Quantity A |
Quantity B |
The probability that both events occur |
The probability that neither event occurs. |
A. Quantity A is Greater.
B. Quantity B is Greater.
C. Both are equal.
D. Cannot be determined from the given information.
Given: The probability of event X occurring is the same as the probability of event Y occurring. The events occur independently of each other.Let P(event X occurs) = p
This means we can also say that P(event Y occurs) = p
Useful property: P(Event A happening) = 1 - P(Event A not happening)So, P(event X does
not occur) = 1 - p
And P(event Y does
not occur) = 1 - p
If events A and B are independent where P(A) = a and P(B) = b, then the probability that both events happen = abSo, P(events X and B both occur) = (p)(p) =
p²Similarly, P(events X and B both do NOT occur) = (1 - p)(1 - p) = (1 - p)² =
1 - 2p + p²So we have:
QUANTITY A:
p²QUANTITY B:
1 - 2p + p²Subtract p² from both quantities to get:
QUANTITY A:
0QUANTITY B:
1 - 2pAdd 2p to both quantities to get:
QUANTITY A:
2pQUANTITY B:
1Divide both quantities by 2 to get:
QUANTITY A:
pQUANTITY B:
0.5Since the value of p can be less than 0.5, equal to 0.5, or greater than 0.5, the correct answer is D