An Introduction to Mathematical Statistics and Its Applications (6th Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0-13411-421-3
ISBN 13: 978-0-13411-421-7

Chapter 2 Probability - 2.3 The Probability Function - Questions - Page 31: 14

Answer

The smallest possible value for \[P{{(A\cup B\cup C)}^{C}}\] would be 0.4.

Work Step by Step

Let events A, B and C be defined on a sample space, S. Then, \[\begin{align} & P(A)=0.2 \\ & P(B)=0.1 \\ & P(C)=0.3 \\ \end{align}\] We know that, \[\begin{align} & P(A\cup B\cup C)=P(A)+P(B)+P(C)-P(A\cap B)-P(B\cap C)-P(A\cap C)+P(A\cap B\cap C) \\ & P(A\cup B\cup C)=0.2+0.1+0.3-[P(A\cap B)+P(B\cap C)+P(A\cap C)-P(A\cap B\cap C)] \\ \end{align}\] Suppose, we put \[P(A\cap B)+P(B\cap C)+P(A\cap C)-P(A\cap B\cap C)=X\] Then, \[P(A\cup B\cup C)=0.6-X\] Therefore, \[\begin{align} & P{{(A\cup B\cup C)}^{C}}=1-P(A\cup B\cup C) \\ & P{{(A\cup B\cup C)}^{C}}=1-(0.6-X) \\ & P{{(A\cup B\cup C)}^{C}}=0.4+X \\ \end{align}\] The above value of \[P{{(A\cup B\cup C)}^{C}}\] must be greater than or equal to 0.4 Therefore the smallest possible value for \[P{{(A\cup B\cup C)}^{C}}\]will be 0.4.
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