Probability

This topic has expert replies
User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 1665
Joined: Thu Nov 03, 2011 7:04 pm
Thanked: 165 times
Followed by:70 members

Probability

by karthikpandian19 » Wed Dec 07, 2011 5:55 pm
Andy and Bob play a game in which a computer randomly selects two real numbers between 0 and 10. Andy's score is the sum of the numbers and Bob's score is one more than the product of the numbers. If the person with the higher score wins the game, what is the probability that Bob wins?

A. 18%
B. 19%
C. 68%
D. 82%
E. 90%

Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 385
Joined: Fri Sep 23, 2011 9:02 pm
Thanked: 62 times
Followed by:6 members

by user123321 » Wed Dec 07, 2011 7:23 pm
let x and y numbers you will get when they start playing
Bob's equation is xy+1
Andy's equation is x+y
and 0<x<10,0<y<10

From question Bob wins if only his sum is greater than Andy's
=> xy+1>x+y
=> xy-x-y+1>0
=> (x-1)(y-1)>0
=>x-1>0,y-1>0 (or) x-1<0,y-1<0

consider x-1>0,y-1>0 & we know from question 0<x<10,0<y<10
so x,y have values from 2 to 10 to have above equations to be satisfied
=> we have 1<x<10, 1<y<10
9 intervals*9 intervals = 81 of total possible possibilities
(here i am not getting how to express this :) because x,y are real numbers)


consider x-1<0,y-1<0 & we know from question 0<x<10,0<y<10
so x,y have just one value 0<x<1,0<y<1 => we have 1 interval*1 interval= 1 of total possibilities

So on the whole we have 81+1 = 82 possibilities

And total number of possibilities are 10 intervals*10 intervals= 100

should be 82% IMO

this problem looks weirdly good one. OA please?

user123321
Just started my preparation :D
Want to do it right the first time.

User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 588
Joined: Sun Oct 16, 2011 9:42 am
Location: New Delhi, India
Thanked: 130 times
Followed by:9 members
GMAT Score:720

by rijul007 » Wed Dec 07, 2011 7:27 pm
Total no of ways computer can select two nos = 11C2 = 55

Case 1: one of the numbers selected is 0
0,1 = No1 wins
0,2-10 = Andy wins

Case 2 : one fo the nos is 1
1,2 = No1 wins
1+n = 1*n + 1
No one wins

Case 3: one of the nos is 2
2,3
2+3 = 5
2*3 + 1 = 7
Bob wins
SAme for rest of the selections

No of selections in which Bob can win:
2,3-10 (8 pairs)
3,4-10(7pairs)
4,5-10(6pairs)
.
.
.

=> 8+7+..1 = 8(2+7)/2 = 36

Prob = 36/55 *100 = 65

Option C is the closest
So IMO:C

User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 588
Joined: Sun Oct 16, 2011 9:42 am
Location: New Delhi, India
Thanked: 130 times
Followed by:9 members
GMAT Score:720

by rijul007 » Wed Dec 07, 2011 7:31 pm
Crap.. i didnt notice between 0 and 10

User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 588
Joined: Sun Oct 16, 2011 9:42 am
Location: New Delhi, India
Thanked: 130 times
Followed by:9 members
GMAT Score:720

by rijul007 » Wed Dec 07, 2011 7:37 pm
user123321 wrote:let x and y numbers you will get when they start playing
Bob's equation is xy+1
Andy's equation is x+y
and 0<x<10,0<y<10

From question Bob wins if only his sum is greater than Andy's
=> xy+1>x+y
=> xy-x-y+1>0
=> (x-1)(y-1)>0
=>x-1>0,y-1>0 (or) x-1<0,y-1<0

consider x-1>0,y-1>0 & we know from question 0<x<10,0<y<10
so x,y have values from 2 to 10 to have above equations to be satisfied
=> we have 1<x<10, 1<y<10
9 intervals*9 intervals = 81 of total possible possibilities
(here i am not getting how to express this :) because x,y are real numbers)


consider x-1<0,y-1<0 & we know from question 0<x<10,0<y<10
so x,y have just one value 0<x<1,0<y<1 => we have 1 interval*1 interval= 1 of total possibilities

So on the whole we have 81+1 = 82 possibilities

And total number of possibilities are 10 intervals*10 intervals= 100

should be 82% IMO

this problem looks weirdly good one. OA please?

user123321
9*9 will get you total no of arrangements
while computer is just selecting two nos
3,5 is the same as 5,3

Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 385
Joined: Fri Sep 23, 2011 9:02 pm
Thanked: 62 times
Followed by:6 members

by user123321 » Wed Dec 07, 2011 7:52 pm
here i am not getting how to express that.

hmm...in other words i will try to explain
(x-1)(y-1)>0
x>1,y>1
so we have the product (x-1)(y-1) value ranging from 0 to 81 => 81 intervals

//ly x<1,y<1
so we have the product (x-1)(y-1) value ranging from 0 to 1=> 1 interval

but from given 0<x<10,0<y<10
so we have the product xy value ranging from 0 to 100 => 100 intervals

so probability = (81+1)/100 = 82%
but i am not so sure whether it is propoer or not.

user123321
Just started my preparation :D
Want to do it right the first time.

User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 15539
Joined: Tue May 25, 2010 12:04 pm
Location: New York, NY
Thanked: 13060 times
Followed by:1906 members
GMAT Score:790

by GMATGuruNY » Thu Dec 08, 2011 6:54 am
karthikpandian19 wrote:Andy and Bob play a game in which a computer randomly selects two real numbers between 0 and 10. Andy's score is the sum of the numbers and Bob's score is one more than the product of the numbers. If the person with the higher score wins the game, what is the probability that Bob wins?

A. 18%
B. 19%
C. 68%
D. 82%
E. 90%
Let the two numbers = x and y.

P(Bob wins) = 1 - P(Adam wins).
(*Please see the disclaimer below.)

P(Adam wins):
Adam wins when x + y > xy + 1:
y-1 > xy - x
y-1 > x(y-1)
x(y-1) - (y-1) < 0
(y-1)(x-1) < 0.

The inequality is valid when y<1 and x>1 (yielding negative*positive) or y>1 and x<1 (yielding positive*negative).

Since the total range is from 0 to 10:
P(x<1 and y>1) = 1/10 * 9/10 = 9/100.
P(x>1 and y<1) = 9/10 * 1/10 = 9/100.
Since Adam wins in either case, we add the fractions:
P(Adam wins) = 9/100 + 9/100 = 18/100.

Thus, P(Bob wins) = 1 - 18/100 = 82/100.

The correct answer is D.

Disclaimer:
If either number = 1, the result will be a draw, since the sum will be equal to one more than the product:
x + 1 = x(1) + 1.
Since there are an infinite number of real numbers between 0 and 10, P(1) is infinitely small.
Thus, the solution above ignores this probability.
Private tutor exclusively for the GMAT and GRE, with over 20 years of experience.
Followed here and elsewhere by over 1900 test-takers.
I have worked with students based in the US, Australia, Taiwan, China, Tajikistan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia -- a long list of countries.
My students have been admitted to HBS, CBS, Tuck, Yale, Stern, Fuqua -- a long list of top programs.

As a tutor, I don't simply teach you how I would approach problems.
I unlock the best way for YOU to solve problems.

For more information, please email me (Mitch Hunt) at [email protected].
Student Review #1
Student Review #2
Student Review #3

Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 385
Joined: Fri Sep 23, 2011 9:02 pm
Thanked: 62 times
Followed by:6 members

by user123321 » Thu Dec 08, 2011 8:34 am
Nice explanation Mitch.

user123321
Just started my preparation :D
Want to do it right the first time.