Determine the Expected Value of Uniformly random elements of sets












1












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enter image description here



Answer is D



The way I attempted this was that for X = MAX(a,b), the random variable X is equivalent to the max value of a and b. So, from the 2 sets, the probability of getting k from set {1,2...100} is $frac{k}{100}$ and for the second set we have to select $frac{k-1}{100}$ so that it is less than the first one.



E(X) would then just be the summation of $x*$$frac{{k*}{(k-1)}}{100}$, which is option B.



Don't understand how its D? Any explanations?










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$endgroup$

















    1












    $begingroup$


    enter image description here



    Answer is D



    The way I attempted this was that for X = MAX(a,b), the random variable X is equivalent to the max value of a and b. So, from the 2 sets, the probability of getting k from set {1,2...100} is $frac{k}{100}$ and for the second set we have to select $frac{k-1}{100}$ so that it is less than the first one.



    E(X) would then just be the summation of $x*$$frac{{k*}{(k-1)}}{100}$, which is option B.



    Don't understand how its D? Any explanations?










    share|cite|improve this question









    $endgroup$















      1












      1








      1





      $begingroup$


      enter image description here



      Answer is D



      The way I attempted this was that for X = MAX(a,b), the random variable X is equivalent to the max value of a and b. So, from the 2 sets, the probability of getting k from set {1,2...100} is $frac{k}{100}$ and for the second set we have to select $frac{k-1}{100}$ so that it is less than the first one.



      E(X) would then just be the summation of $x*$$frac{{k*}{(k-1)}}{100}$, which is option B.



      Don't understand how its D? Any explanations?










      share|cite|improve this question









      $endgroup$




      enter image description here



      Answer is D



      The way I attempted this was that for X = MAX(a,b), the random variable X is equivalent to the max value of a and b. So, from the 2 sets, the probability of getting k from set {1,2...100} is $frac{k}{100}$ and for the second set we have to select $frac{k-1}{100}$ so that it is less than the first one.



      E(X) would then just be the summation of $x*$$frac{{k*}{(k-1)}}{100}$, which is option B.



      Don't understand how its D? Any explanations?







      probability discrete-mathematics random-variables expected-value






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      share|cite|improve this question










      asked Dec 12 '18 at 18:34









      TobyToby

      1577




      1577






















          2 Answers
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          active

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          1












          $begingroup$

          Your general logic is fine, although you calculate the probability incorrectly. Note that, if $max(a,b) = k$, then we have one of three cases:





          1. $a = k$ and $b < k$.


          2. $a < k$ and $b = k$.

          3. $a = b = k$


          It should be readily apparent that these cases are disjoint, so to find the probability $P(X = k)$, we can add the probabilities of these cases.



          Since $a,b$ are uniform, it's really a matter of counting how many ways this can happen. There's one way for $a = k$ to happen and $k-1$ ways for $b < k$, so multiplying these gives $k-1$ ways; similarly, there's also $k-1$ ways to get $a < k$ and $b = k$. Finally, there's exactly one way to get $a = b = k$. Adding these gives you $1 + 2(k - 1)$; we divide by $100^2$ as the total number of outcomes for $a,b$. This give the probability $P(X = k) = frac{1 + 2(k-1)}{100^2}$, from which you can derive the expected value in the way you do above.






          share|cite|improve this answer









          $endgroup$













          • $begingroup$
            I'm not familiar with the disjoint terminology. I'm assuming that means there is nothing in common with those 3 cases? If so, doesn't case 1 and 2 have a=k and b=k common with case 3? Does that make it not disjoint and you can't add probabilities (assuming again you can add probabilities only for disjoint?)
            $endgroup$
            – Toby
            Dec 12 '18 at 22:42






          • 1




            $begingroup$
            By disjoint, I mean that the cases have no overlap -- no outcome can be in multiple cases at once. You're right in noting disjointness is required to add probabilities. But it's impossible for case $3$ to overlap with either of the other two, because if $a=k$ and $b=k$, then one of the conditions has to break (because case 1 requires $b < k$ and case 2 requires $a < k$).
            $endgroup$
            – platty
            Dec 12 '18 at 22:43












          • $begingroup$
            Oh, I understand what you mean now! Cheers
            $endgroup$
            – Toby
            Dec 12 '18 at 22:45



















          1












          $begingroup$

          You can use the following:
          $$E(X)=sum_{k=1}^{100} P(Xge k)$$
          $$P(Xge k)=1-P(Xle k-1)$$
          $$P(Xle k)=P(ale ktext{ and }ble k)$$






          share|cite|improve this answer









          $endgroup$













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            2 Answers
            2






            active

            oldest

            votes








            2 Answers
            2






            active

            oldest

            votes









            active

            oldest

            votes






            active

            oldest

            votes









            1












            $begingroup$

            Your general logic is fine, although you calculate the probability incorrectly. Note that, if $max(a,b) = k$, then we have one of three cases:





            1. $a = k$ and $b < k$.


            2. $a < k$ and $b = k$.

            3. $a = b = k$


            It should be readily apparent that these cases are disjoint, so to find the probability $P(X = k)$, we can add the probabilities of these cases.



            Since $a,b$ are uniform, it's really a matter of counting how many ways this can happen. There's one way for $a = k$ to happen and $k-1$ ways for $b < k$, so multiplying these gives $k-1$ ways; similarly, there's also $k-1$ ways to get $a < k$ and $b = k$. Finally, there's exactly one way to get $a = b = k$. Adding these gives you $1 + 2(k - 1)$; we divide by $100^2$ as the total number of outcomes for $a,b$. This give the probability $P(X = k) = frac{1 + 2(k-1)}{100^2}$, from which you can derive the expected value in the way you do above.






            share|cite|improve this answer









            $endgroup$













            • $begingroup$
              I'm not familiar with the disjoint terminology. I'm assuming that means there is nothing in common with those 3 cases? If so, doesn't case 1 and 2 have a=k and b=k common with case 3? Does that make it not disjoint and you can't add probabilities (assuming again you can add probabilities only for disjoint?)
              $endgroup$
              – Toby
              Dec 12 '18 at 22:42






            • 1




              $begingroup$
              By disjoint, I mean that the cases have no overlap -- no outcome can be in multiple cases at once. You're right in noting disjointness is required to add probabilities. But it's impossible for case $3$ to overlap with either of the other two, because if $a=k$ and $b=k$, then one of the conditions has to break (because case 1 requires $b < k$ and case 2 requires $a < k$).
              $endgroup$
              – platty
              Dec 12 '18 at 22:43












            • $begingroup$
              Oh, I understand what you mean now! Cheers
              $endgroup$
              – Toby
              Dec 12 '18 at 22:45
















            1












            $begingroup$

            Your general logic is fine, although you calculate the probability incorrectly. Note that, if $max(a,b) = k$, then we have one of three cases:





            1. $a = k$ and $b < k$.


            2. $a < k$ and $b = k$.

            3. $a = b = k$


            It should be readily apparent that these cases are disjoint, so to find the probability $P(X = k)$, we can add the probabilities of these cases.



            Since $a,b$ are uniform, it's really a matter of counting how many ways this can happen. There's one way for $a = k$ to happen and $k-1$ ways for $b < k$, so multiplying these gives $k-1$ ways; similarly, there's also $k-1$ ways to get $a < k$ and $b = k$. Finally, there's exactly one way to get $a = b = k$. Adding these gives you $1 + 2(k - 1)$; we divide by $100^2$ as the total number of outcomes for $a,b$. This give the probability $P(X = k) = frac{1 + 2(k-1)}{100^2}$, from which you can derive the expected value in the way you do above.






            share|cite|improve this answer









            $endgroup$













            • $begingroup$
              I'm not familiar with the disjoint terminology. I'm assuming that means there is nothing in common with those 3 cases? If so, doesn't case 1 and 2 have a=k and b=k common with case 3? Does that make it not disjoint and you can't add probabilities (assuming again you can add probabilities only for disjoint?)
              $endgroup$
              – Toby
              Dec 12 '18 at 22:42






            • 1




              $begingroup$
              By disjoint, I mean that the cases have no overlap -- no outcome can be in multiple cases at once. You're right in noting disjointness is required to add probabilities. But it's impossible for case $3$ to overlap with either of the other two, because if $a=k$ and $b=k$, then one of the conditions has to break (because case 1 requires $b < k$ and case 2 requires $a < k$).
              $endgroup$
              – platty
              Dec 12 '18 at 22:43












            • $begingroup$
              Oh, I understand what you mean now! Cheers
              $endgroup$
              – Toby
              Dec 12 '18 at 22:45














            1












            1








            1





            $begingroup$

            Your general logic is fine, although you calculate the probability incorrectly. Note that, if $max(a,b) = k$, then we have one of three cases:





            1. $a = k$ and $b < k$.


            2. $a < k$ and $b = k$.

            3. $a = b = k$


            It should be readily apparent that these cases are disjoint, so to find the probability $P(X = k)$, we can add the probabilities of these cases.



            Since $a,b$ are uniform, it's really a matter of counting how many ways this can happen. There's one way for $a = k$ to happen and $k-1$ ways for $b < k$, so multiplying these gives $k-1$ ways; similarly, there's also $k-1$ ways to get $a < k$ and $b = k$. Finally, there's exactly one way to get $a = b = k$. Adding these gives you $1 + 2(k - 1)$; we divide by $100^2$ as the total number of outcomes for $a,b$. This give the probability $P(X = k) = frac{1 + 2(k-1)}{100^2}$, from which you can derive the expected value in the way you do above.






            share|cite|improve this answer









            $endgroup$



            Your general logic is fine, although you calculate the probability incorrectly. Note that, if $max(a,b) = k$, then we have one of three cases:





            1. $a = k$ and $b < k$.


            2. $a < k$ and $b = k$.

            3. $a = b = k$


            It should be readily apparent that these cases are disjoint, so to find the probability $P(X = k)$, we can add the probabilities of these cases.



            Since $a,b$ are uniform, it's really a matter of counting how many ways this can happen. There's one way for $a = k$ to happen and $k-1$ ways for $b < k$, so multiplying these gives $k-1$ ways; similarly, there's also $k-1$ ways to get $a < k$ and $b = k$. Finally, there's exactly one way to get $a = b = k$. Adding these gives you $1 + 2(k - 1)$; we divide by $100^2$ as the total number of outcomes for $a,b$. This give the probability $P(X = k) = frac{1 + 2(k-1)}{100^2}$, from which you can derive the expected value in the way you do above.







            share|cite|improve this answer












            share|cite|improve this answer



            share|cite|improve this answer










            answered Dec 12 '18 at 22:03









            plattyplatty

            3,370320




            3,370320












            • $begingroup$
              I'm not familiar with the disjoint terminology. I'm assuming that means there is nothing in common with those 3 cases? If so, doesn't case 1 and 2 have a=k and b=k common with case 3? Does that make it not disjoint and you can't add probabilities (assuming again you can add probabilities only for disjoint?)
              $endgroup$
              – Toby
              Dec 12 '18 at 22:42






            • 1




              $begingroup$
              By disjoint, I mean that the cases have no overlap -- no outcome can be in multiple cases at once. You're right in noting disjointness is required to add probabilities. But it's impossible for case $3$ to overlap with either of the other two, because if $a=k$ and $b=k$, then one of the conditions has to break (because case 1 requires $b < k$ and case 2 requires $a < k$).
              $endgroup$
              – platty
              Dec 12 '18 at 22:43












            • $begingroup$
              Oh, I understand what you mean now! Cheers
              $endgroup$
              – Toby
              Dec 12 '18 at 22:45


















            • $begingroup$
              I'm not familiar with the disjoint terminology. I'm assuming that means there is nothing in common with those 3 cases? If so, doesn't case 1 and 2 have a=k and b=k common with case 3? Does that make it not disjoint and you can't add probabilities (assuming again you can add probabilities only for disjoint?)
              $endgroup$
              – Toby
              Dec 12 '18 at 22:42






            • 1




              $begingroup$
              By disjoint, I mean that the cases have no overlap -- no outcome can be in multiple cases at once. You're right in noting disjointness is required to add probabilities. But it's impossible for case $3$ to overlap with either of the other two, because if $a=k$ and $b=k$, then one of the conditions has to break (because case 1 requires $b < k$ and case 2 requires $a < k$).
              $endgroup$
              – platty
              Dec 12 '18 at 22:43












            • $begingroup$
              Oh, I understand what you mean now! Cheers
              $endgroup$
              – Toby
              Dec 12 '18 at 22:45
















            $begingroup$
            I'm not familiar with the disjoint terminology. I'm assuming that means there is nothing in common with those 3 cases? If so, doesn't case 1 and 2 have a=k and b=k common with case 3? Does that make it not disjoint and you can't add probabilities (assuming again you can add probabilities only for disjoint?)
            $endgroup$
            – Toby
            Dec 12 '18 at 22:42




            $begingroup$
            I'm not familiar with the disjoint terminology. I'm assuming that means there is nothing in common with those 3 cases? If so, doesn't case 1 and 2 have a=k and b=k common with case 3? Does that make it not disjoint and you can't add probabilities (assuming again you can add probabilities only for disjoint?)
            $endgroup$
            – Toby
            Dec 12 '18 at 22:42




            1




            1




            $begingroup$
            By disjoint, I mean that the cases have no overlap -- no outcome can be in multiple cases at once. You're right in noting disjointness is required to add probabilities. But it's impossible for case $3$ to overlap with either of the other two, because if $a=k$ and $b=k$, then one of the conditions has to break (because case 1 requires $b < k$ and case 2 requires $a < k$).
            $endgroup$
            – platty
            Dec 12 '18 at 22:43






            $begingroup$
            By disjoint, I mean that the cases have no overlap -- no outcome can be in multiple cases at once. You're right in noting disjointness is required to add probabilities. But it's impossible for case $3$ to overlap with either of the other two, because if $a=k$ and $b=k$, then one of the conditions has to break (because case 1 requires $b < k$ and case 2 requires $a < k$).
            $endgroup$
            – platty
            Dec 12 '18 at 22:43














            $begingroup$
            Oh, I understand what you mean now! Cheers
            $endgroup$
            – Toby
            Dec 12 '18 at 22:45




            $begingroup$
            Oh, I understand what you mean now! Cheers
            $endgroup$
            – Toby
            Dec 12 '18 at 22:45











            1












            $begingroup$

            You can use the following:
            $$E(X)=sum_{k=1}^{100} P(Xge k)$$
            $$P(Xge k)=1-P(Xle k-1)$$
            $$P(Xle k)=P(ale ktext{ and }ble k)$$






            share|cite|improve this answer









            $endgroup$


















              1












              $begingroup$

              You can use the following:
              $$E(X)=sum_{k=1}^{100} P(Xge k)$$
              $$P(Xge k)=1-P(Xle k-1)$$
              $$P(Xle k)=P(ale ktext{ and }ble k)$$






              share|cite|improve this answer









              $endgroup$
















                1












                1








                1





                $begingroup$

                You can use the following:
                $$E(X)=sum_{k=1}^{100} P(Xge k)$$
                $$P(Xge k)=1-P(Xle k-1)$$
                $$P(Xle k)=P(ale ktext{ and }ble k)$$






                share|cite|improve this answer









                $endgroup$



                You can use the following:
                $$E(X)=sum_{k=1}^{100} P(Xge k)$$
                $$P(Xge k)=1-P(Xle k-1)$$
                $$P(Xle k)=P(ale ktext{ and }ble k)$$







                share|cite|improve this answer












                share|cite|improve this answer



                share|cite|improve this answer










                answered Dec 12 '18 at 18:40









                Bjørn Kjos-HanssenBjørn Kjos-Hanssen

                2,086818




                2,086818






























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