Q.(a) The probability that it rains today is 0.4. If it rains today, the probability that it will rain tomorrow is 0.8. If it does not rain today, the probability that it will rain tomorrow is 0.7.
: denotes the probability that it does not rain today.
: denotes the probability that it will not rain tomorrow, if it rains today.
: denotes the probability that it will rain tomorrow, if it does not rain today.
: denotes the probability that it will not rain tomorrow, if it does not rain today.
This problem uses conditional probability and the law of total probability. The key is to correctly identify each given probability and compute the required expression , which simplifies to . The probability of rain tomorrow is .
Concept and Intuition
This is a classic two-day weather problem built on conditional probability. The idea is simple: the chance of rain tomorrow depends on whether it rains today. We are given:
- The unconditional probability of rain today:
- Two conditional probabilities for tomorrow:
- If it rains today, chance of rain tomorrow is
- If it does NOT rain today, chance of rain tomorrow is
The problem then defines four derived probabilities ( through ) — these are just the complements of the given events. The trick is to translate each into standard probability notation without confusion.
A common mistake is to mix up which probability is the complement of which. For example, is "probability that it will NOT rain tomorrow, if it rains today" — that is the complement of the given , not . Always read the condition carefully.
Step-by-step solution
1. Identify
is the probability that it does not rain today.
Since rain today has probability , the complement is:
2. Identify
is the probability that it will not rain tomorrow, given that it rains today.
We are told: if it rains today, rain tomorrow has probability . So the complement is:
3. Identify
is the probability that it will rain tomorrow, given that it does not rain today.
This is directly given: . So:
4. Identify
is the probability that it will not rain tomorrow, given that it does not rain today.
This is the complement of :
5. Compute
Substitute the values:
Notice that is actually the determinant of a matrix formed by the conditional probabilities and their complements. This structure appears often in problems involving two events and their complements.
6. Calculate the probability of rain tomorrow
We use the law of total probability. Rain tomorrow can happen in two mutually exclusive ways:
- It rains today and then rains tomorrow
- It does not rain today and then rains tomorrow
Let and denote rain events. Then:
Law of Total Probability
- The value of is .
- The probability of rain tomorrow is .
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