| Advanced Math |
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| Question : |
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What is the meaning of Probability ? |
Answer : |
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Here is a quotation about Probability by Bishop Butler :
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A gambler's dispute in 1654 led to the creation of a mathematical theory of probability
by two famous French mathematicians, Blaise Pascal and Pierre de Fermat.
The earliest work was performed by Girolamo Cardano (1501-1576) an Italian mathematician, physician, and gambler.
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Probability theory is the branch of mathematics concerned with analysis of random phenomena.
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| That which chiefly
constitutes Probability is expressed in the World Likely, i.e.
like some Truth, or true Event; like it, in itself, in its Evidence,
in some more fewer of its Circumstances. For when we determine
a thing to be probably true, . .Its from the Mind's remarking
in it a Likeness to some other Event, which we have observed
has come to pass. |
| If an event can
occur in a ways and the chance of it not occuring in b ways
the probability of it occuring is (a/(a + b)) and of its failing
is (b/(a + b)). Therefore, in a group of 29 waiting outside
a movie house to buy ticket for the movie only five tickets
are avaible, then the probability of any one particular person
getting a ticket is (5/29) and of his not getting a ticket is
(24/29). |
| Let us take another
example, if one handkerchief is to be drawn from a bag containing
two white handkerchieves and three black handkerchieves the
probability of drawing a white handkerchief is 2/5 and the probability
of drawing a black handkerchief is 3/5. |
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Probability theory is used extensively in areas such as statistics,
mathematics, science and philosophy to draw conclusions about
the likelihood of potential events and the underlying mechanics of complex systems.
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