ЁЯО▓

Introduction to Probability

Aug 26, 2025

Overview

This lecture covers the Probability chapter in a one-shot manner, including basic definitions, sample space, events, formulas, and tricks to solve exam-point questions.

Types of Probability

  • Probability has two broad divisions: Subjective (experience-based) and Objective (based on mathematical rules).
  • Objective probability is solved using mathematical rules.

Basic Terms and Sample Space

  • Random Experiment: An experiment whose outcome cannot be determined beforehand (e.g., tossing a coin).
  • Sample Space: The set of all possible outcomes.
  • Coin: Sample space in n coin tosses = 2тБ┐.
  • Dice: Sample space in n dice rolls = 6тБ┐.
  • Playing Cards: Total 52; 26 red (hearts, diamonds), 26 black (spades, clubs); 12 face cards (K, Q, J).

Events and Their Categories

  • Event = a subset of the sample space (e.g., getting an even number on dice).
  • Simple (Elementary) Event: Cannot be broken down further.
  • Compound/Composite Event: Can be divided into smaller events.
  • Sure Event: Certain to occur (probability 1).
  • Impossible Event: Cannot occur (probability 0).

Probability Formula and Tricks

  • Probability = (Favorable outcomes) / (Total outcomes)
  • Probability of an event not occurring = 1 - Probability of that event.
  • Odds in favor: favorable/unfavorable; Odds against: unfavorable/favorable.
  • "At least one": 1 - (probability of no favorable outcomes).

Important Event Relations

  • Mutually Exclusive: Events with no common outcome.
  • Exhaustive: Events whose union covers the entire sample space.
  • Equally Likely: All have the same probability.
  • Three mutually exclusive and exhaustive events: P(A)+P(B)+P(C)=1

Union and Intersection Formulas

  • P(A тИк B) = P(A) + P(B) - P(A тИй B)
  • P(A тИк B тИк C) = PA + PB + PC - (PAB + PBC + PCA) + PABC

Compound and Conditional Probability

  • Compound Probability: Two or more events occurring together.
    • Independent: P(A тИй B) = P(A) ├Ч P(B)
    • Dependent: P(A тИй B) = P(A) ├Ч P(B|A)
  • Conditional Probability: P(A|B) = P(A тИй B) / P(B)

Variance and Expectation

  • Expectation: E(X) = ╬г x├ЧP(x)
  • Variance: Var(X) = E(X┬▓) тАУ [E(X)]┬▓

Key Terms & Definitions

  • Sample Space тАФ The set of all possible outcomes.
  • Event тАФ A part of the sample space; a specific outcome.
  • Mutually Exclusive тАФ Two events whose intersection is zero.
  • Conditional Probability тАФ Probability of an event given another has occurred.
  • Odds in Favor / Against тАФ Ratio of favorable to unfavorable outcomes.
  • Expectation тАФ Expected average value.
  • Variance тАФ Measure of spread of values.

Action Items / Next Steps

  • Follow new targets from April 9.
  • Join the 500 Most Important Question series from April 11.
  • Homework: Practice the questions done in the lecture by yourself.
  • In the upcoming session, study theoretical distribution.