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tuscan21 Just gettin' started! Default Avatar
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stats Post Sat Oct 24, 2009 5:26 am
Elapsed Time: 00:00
  • Lap #[LAPCOUNT] ([LAPTIME])
    Suppose that the probability is 0.5 that the value of the U.S.Dollar will rise against the Japanese yen over any given week, and that the outcome in one week is independent of that in any other week. What is the probability that the value of the U.S. Dollar will rise against the Japanese yen in 4 of the 7 weeks? What is the probability that it will rise against the yen in a majority of weeks over the period of 7 weeks?

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    Leon1984 Rising GMAT Star Default Avatar
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    Post Sun Oct 25, 2009 6:59 am
    There is a formula for this kind of probability:

    P(success)^n * P(failure)^n * nCs
    n=number of attempts = 7
    nCs = number of combinations in which the requirement is met, in this case we choose 4 out of 7:

    (0.5)^4 * (0.5)^3 * 7C4

    1/16 * 1/8 * (7*6*5)/2*3

    1/16 * 1/8 *7*5

    1/128 * 35 = 35/128

    This is the answer for the first part. The second part ask about the majority, so it asks about he probability that it will rise 4 or 5 or 6 or 7 times.
    We can find each and sum them up. We can also, to save time, find the probability that it will not happen, and substruct this from 1.

    So let's find the probability for 1,2,3 rises.

    (0.5)^1 * (0.5)^6 * 7 = 1/2*1/64*7 = 1/128*7 = 7/128
    (0.5)^2 * (0.5)^5 * 7C2 = 1/4*1/32* 7*3 = 21/128
    (0.5)^3 * (0.5)^4 * 7C3 = 1/8*1/16* 7*5 = 35/128
    (7+21+35)/128 = 63/128 This is minority!
    Remember! 1-63/128 = 65/128

    _________________
    Leon

    Thanked by: tuscan21
    StatsStudent Just gettin' started!
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    Post Mon Feb 13, 2012 11:40 am
    This formula was very helpful! But I noticed one thing--you forgot to account for the probability that it rose 0 times, which is 1/128, making the odds 64/128 or .5.

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