document.write( "Question 1045311: In a duel between X and Y both duelists have 2 bullets. The first one to shoot is X, with a chance to hit of 30%, afterwards if X missed Y shoots with a chance to hit of 60%, afterwards if Y missed X shoots with a chance to hit of 40% and finally if X missed Y shoots with a chance to hit of 50%. What is the probability that Y will hit X? \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #660767 by robertb(5830) You can put this solution on YOUR website! We go by the assumption that once a duelist hits his opponent, then the hit opponent cannot hit back anymore, and the duel ends.\r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "With that said, there are only 5 possible elements to this sample space, which are the following mutually exclusive events:\r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "{X hit}, \n" ); document.write( "{X no-hit, Y hit}, \n" ); document.write( "{X no-hit, Y no-hit, X hit} \n" ); document.write( "{X no-hit, Y no-hit, X no-hit, Y hit} \n" ); document.write( "{X no-hit, Y no-hit, X no-hit, Y no-hit}.\r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "This listing can also be illustrated using a TREE DIAGRAM, with the proper labeling of probabilities being indicated at every respective \n" ); document.write( "branch.\r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "We are interested in cases 2 and 4 above, where Y ends up hitting X.\r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "===> probability is 0.7*0.6 + 0.7*0.4*0.6*0.5 = \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "N.B.: \r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "The probability that X hits Y is done similarly (represented by cases 1 and 3), and is \r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "0.3 + 0.7*0.4*0.4 = 0.412.\r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "The probability that neither of them hits the other during the whole process is 0.7*0.4*0.6*0.5 = 0.084. (Both of them walk off unscathed.)\r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Checking the probabilities for all cases gives 0.504 + 0.412 + 0.084 = 1. \n" ); document.write( " |