Questions

2.2.1. A graduating engineer has signed up for three job interviews. She intends to categorize each one
as being either a “success” or a “failure” depending on whether it leads to a plant trip. Write out the
appropriate sample space. What outcomes are in the event A: Second success occurs on third interview?
In B: First success never occurs?

Solution

Let s be success and f be failure.

S = {sss, ssf, sfs, fss, sff, fsf, ffs, fff}

From the sample space, we can immediately find for the two events. That is,

A = {sfs, fss}

B = {fff}
2.2.5 A woman has her purse snatched by two teenagers. She is subsequently shown a police lineup
consisting of five suspects, including the two perpetrators. What is the sample space associated with the
experiment “Woman picks two suspects out of lineup”? Which outcomes are in the event, A, that she
makes at least one incorrect identification?

Solution

Let the three innocents be i1, i2, and i3 respectively.

p1 and p2 be the two perpetrators.

The sample space then is S = {(i1, i2), (i1, i3), (i1, p1), (i1, p2), (i2, i3), (i2, p1), (i2, p2), (i3, p1), (i3, p2), (p1, p2)}

Therefore, for us to determine the event A, we need to look on the sample space where p1 and p2 is
partnered with other number and those numbers where it is not belong since we need at least one
incorrect identification. Thus, the sample outcome of the said event is all the elements in the sample
space except for (p1, p2).

Hence, A = {( i1, i2), (i1, i3), (i1, p1), (i1, p2), (i2, i3), (i2, p1), (i2, p2), (i3, p1), (i3, p2)}
2.2.9. Sketch the region in the xy-plane corresponding to A B and A B if

A = {(x,y): 0 < x < 3, 0 < y < 3}

and

B = {(x,y): 2 < x < 4, 2 < y < 4}

Solution

Sketch:

A B A B
2.2.13. Let Ai = {x: 0 ≤ x < } , i = 1, 2, … , k. Describe the sets

a. ⋃ b. ⋂

Solution

To solve for the unions of Ai lets relate it first to the number line, and that would look
like this.

Ak
:
:
A3
[ ) A2
Figure 1 [ ) A1
[ )
0 1

From Figure 1 we see the pattern of the given expression as i increases. Therefore, the unions of
these total intervals is just the unions of A1, A2, A3, and soon. Hence,

⋃ = {x: 0 ≤ x < 1} or A1

Again, basing from the Figure 1 we see that as i increases the interval is getting smaller and
smaller. But, we are sure that in the intersections of those intervals the lower limit is zero and
the upper limit is a value that approaches zero. Thus,

⋂ = {x: 0 ≤ x < } or Ak
2.2.17. Let A and B be any two events. Use Venn diagrams to show that

a. the complement of their intersection is the union of their complements:

(A B)c = Ac Bc

b. the complement of their union is the intersection of their complements:

(A B)c = Ac Bc

Solution

Diagram for a.

Ac union Bc

A (A B) B A (A B) B

Ac Ac Bc Bc

(A B)c equal Ac Bc

A (A B) B A (A B) B
\ =
 Diagram for b.

Ac intersection Bc

A (A B) B A (A B) B

Ac Ac Bc Bc

(A B)c equal Ac Bc

A (A B) B A (A B) B
=
2.3.1. According to a family-oriented lobbying group, there is too much crude language and violence on
television. Forty-two percent of the programs they screened had language they found offensive, 27%
were too violent, and 10% were considered excessive in both language and violence. What percentage
of programs did comply with the group’s standards?

Given:

42% - offensive Venn Diagram

27% - too violent

10% - excessive in both

Solution 0.32 0.1 0.17

Let A be offensive and B be too violent

P(A) = 0.42

P(B) = 0.27

P(A B) = 0.1

P[(A B)c] = ?

Step 1. From theorem 2.3.6. Step 2. By theorem 2.3.1

P(A B) = P(A) + P(B) - P(A B) P[(A B)c] = 1 - P(A B)

= 0.42 + 0.27 - 0.1 = 1 – 0.59

= 0.59 = 0.41
2.3.5. Suppose that three fair dice are tossed. Let Ai be the event that a 6 shows on the ith die, i = 1, 2, 3.
Does P(A1 A2 A3) = ? Explain.

= No, since we need to show 6 on any of the three dice. Therefore, the P(A 1 A2 A3) ≠ P(A1) +
P(A2) + P(A3) as they are not mutually exclusive. More details are as follow.

Solution

Let X be at least one “6” appears

Y be no “6” appears

Find P(X) = ?

Venn Diagram

A1 = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6}, A2 = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6}, & A3 = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6}

Therefore, from the three events we can find for probability of Y. That is,

P(Y) =

Since we know that the complement of X is Y. Hence, from Theorem 2.3.1

P(S) = P(X) + P(Y)

P(X) = P(S) - P(Y); Now, from the three events we can let P(Y) be raise to power of 3. Thus,

= 1 - ( ) ; By axiom 2, P(S) = 1

= or 0.4213 ; which is not equal to

2.3.9. In the game of “Odd man out” each player tosses a fair coin. If all the coins turn up the same
except for one, the player tossing the different coin is declared the odd man out and is eliminated from
the contest. Suppose that three people are playing. What is the probability that someone will be
eliminated on the first toss?

Solution

Let A be no one eliminated on the first toss.

S = {HHH, HHT, HTH, THH, HTT, THT, TTH, TTT}

From the sample space, we are sure that the probability that no one will be eliminated on the
first toss is P(A) = or . But what we are looking for is the probability of its complement, that is P(Ac) = ?

Now, from Theorem 2.3.1

P(A) = 1 - P(Ac)

Thus, P(Ac) = 1 – P(A)

=1-

HHT HTH

THT HHH THH

TTT

HTT TTH

Venn Diagram
2.3.13. Consolidated industries have come under considerable pressure to eliminate its seemingly
discriminatory hiring practices. Company officials have agreed that during the next five years, 60% of
their new employees will be females and 30% will be minorities. One out of four new employees,
though, will be white males. What percentage of their new hires will be minority females?

Given:

New employees

60% - females

30% - minorities

0.6 ? 0.3

Solution

Let F be females

M be minorities Venn Diagram

P(F) = 0.6

P(M) = 0.3

P(FC Mc) = 0.25

P(F M) = ?

For us to get the intersection of it, we need to find first for the union of the two events.

And from DeMorgan’s Laws that (Fc Mc) = (F M)c, thus from Theorem 2.3.1

P(F M) = 1 - P(F M)c

= 1 – 0.25

= 0.75

Therefore, From Theorem 2.3.6

P(F M) = P(F) + P(M) - P(F M)

= 0.6 + 0.3 – 0.75

= 0.15