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The odds against event A are 3:5 and the odds in favour of event B are 4:7. If A and B are independent, what is the probability that at least one of the events occurs?
67/88
3/4
5/7
13/16
67/88
Use the complement rule: find the probability that neither event happens (P(AтА▓)├ЧP(BтА▓)) and subtract from 1 for instant evaluation.
Odds against A = 3:5, Odds in favour of B = 4:7, Events A and B are independent
P(AтИкB)=1тИТP(AтА▓)P(BтА▓)
Use the complement rule: find the probability that neither event happens (P(AтА▓)├ЧP(BтА▓)) and subtract from 1 for instant evaluation.
Confusing odds against with odds in favour or failing to multiply complement probabilities for independent events.
Find Probability of Event A
Since the odds against event A are 3:5, the probability of event A is calculated as P(A)=3+55тАЛ=85тАЛ and its complement is P(AтА▓)=83тАЛ.
P(AтА▓)=83тАЛ
Find Probability of Event B
Given that the odds in favour of event B are 4:7, the probability of event B is P(B)=4+74тАЛ=114тАЛ and its complement is P(BтА▓)=117тАЛ.
P(BтА▓)=117тАЛ
Apply Independence and Complement Rule
Since A and B are independent, the probability that neither occurs is given by the product of their individual complement probabilities: 83тАЛ├Ч117тАЛ=8821тАЛ.
P(AтА▓тИйBтА▓)=8821тАЛ
Calculate Probability of At Least One Event
The probability that at least one event occurs is the complement of neither occurring, which is 1тИТ8821тАЛ=8867тАЛ.
P(AтИкB)=1тИТ8821тАЛ=8867тАЛ
A is correct because the probability that at least one of the independent events occurs evaluates to 67/88.
This complement approach is extremely useful in binomial distribution problems and analyzing system reliability in parallel networks.