SOLUTION: Please please please help Suppose E,F are events in a sample space S. Suppose Pr (E|F)=3/4 and Pr (F|E)= 1/2 and Pr (EUF)=2/3. Find (E) and Pr (F)

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Question 1024795: Please please please help
Suppose E,F are events in a sample space S. Suppose Pr (E|F)=3/4 and Pr (F|E)= 1/2 and Pr (EUF)=2/3. Find (E) and Pr (F)

Answer by Edwin McCravy(20060)   (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
There are two ways to do it;

(1) By Venn diagram
(2) By formula

I'll do it both ways:

(1) By Venn diagram:

Let the probabilities of the four regions in the Venn
diagram be a,b,c, and d: 



Then if we understand what 
"one set given another" means, we have:

P(E|F) = b/(b+c) = 3/4
P(F|E) = b/(a+b) = 1/2
P(EUF) = (a+b+c)/(a+b+c+d) = 2/3
P(U) = a+b+c+d = 1

Cross multiplying and simplifying on the first three,
we have the system:



Subtracting the 3rd equation from the 4th,

 d = 1-2d
3d = 1
 d = 1/3

Since b=3c, c=b/3
and we have b=a

Substitute those and d = 1/3 in

a+b+c=2d
b+b+b/3 = 2(1/3)
2b+b/3 = 2/3
Multiply through by 3
6b+b = 2
7b = 2
  b = 2/7

a = b = 2/7
c = b/3 = (2/7)/3 = 2/21

So Pr(E) = a+b = 2/7+2/7 = 4/7

and Pr(F) = b+c = 2/7+2/21 = 8/21

--------------------------------

By formulas, which requires no understanding:

Pr(E|F) = Pr(E&F)/Pr(F) = 3/4
Pr(F|E) = Pr(F&E)/Pr(E) = 1/2
Pr(EUF) = Pr(E)+Pr(F)-Pr(E&F) = 2/3

From the first:  3Pr(F) = 4Pr(E&F)
                 Pr(F) = 4Pr(E&F)/3
From the second: Pr(E) = 2Pr(F&E)

Substituting in:

Pr(E)+Pr(F)-Pr(E&F) = 2/3

2Pr(F&E)+4Pr(E&F)/3-Pr(E&F) = 2/3

Since F&E = E&F

2Pr(E&F)+4Pr(E&F)/3-Pr(E&F) = 2/3

Pr(E&F)+4Pr(E&F)/3 = 2/3

Multiply through by 3

3Pr(E&F)+4Pr(E&F) = 2

7Pr(E&F) = 2

Pr(E&F) = 2/7

Substituting in

Pr(E) = 2Pr(F&E)

Pr(E) = 2Pr(E&F)

Pr(E) = 2(2/7)

Pr(E) = 4/7

Pr(F) = 4Pr(E&F)/3

Pr(F) = 4(2/7)/3

Pr(F) = (8/7)/3

Pr(F) = 8/21

Edwin

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