Three bags contain a number of red and white balls as follows:
Bag 1: 3 red balls, Bag 2: 2 red balls and 1 white ball
Bag 3: 3 white balls.
The probability that bag i will be chosen and a ball is selected from it is i/6, i = 1, 2, 3. What is the probability that
(i) A red ball will be selected. (ii) a white ball is selected?
Solution
Let E1, E2, and E3 be the events that Bag 1, Bag 2 and Bag 3 are selected, and a ball is chosen from it.
Bag 1: 3 red balls,
Bag 2: 2 red balls and 1 white ball
Bag 3: 3 white balls.
The probability that bag i will be chosen and a ball is selected from it is i|6.
The Law of Total Probability:
In a sample space S, let E1, E2, E3…….En be n mutually exclusive and exhaustive events associated with a random experiment. If A is any event which occurs with E1, E2, E3…….En, then
(i) Let “E” be the event that a red ball is selected.
P(E|E1) is the probability that a red ball is chosen from bag 1.
P(E|E2) is the probability that the red ball is chosen from the bag 2.
P(E|E3) is the probability that a red ball is chosen from bag 3.
Therefore,
As red ball can be selected from Bag 1, Bag 2 and Bag 3.
Therefore, the probability of choosing a red ball is the sum of individual probabilities of choosing the red from the given bags.
From the law of total probability,
(ii)Let F be the event that a white ball is selected.
Therefore, P(F|E1) is the probability that a white ball is chosen from bag 1.
P(F|E2) is the probability that a white ball is chosen from bag 2.
P(F|E3) is the probability that a white ball is chosen from bag 2.
P(F|E1) = 0
A white ball can be selected from Bag 1, Bag 2 and Bag 3
Therefore, the sum of individual probabilities of choosing the red from the given bags is the probability of choosing a white ball.