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Today, we're going to talk about what we mean by 'experiment' in probability. An experiment is essentially any action that produces outcomes. Can anyone think of an example of an experiment?
How about tossing a coin?
Absolutely, tossing a coin is a perfect example. Each time you toss it, that's considered a trial. After one trial, what could the outcomes be?
It could be heads or tails.
Great! So the outcome is the result of that trial. Now, can anyone explain what we mean by the sample space?
Let's now move on to the concept of sample space. The sample space is the set of all possible outcomes for an experiment. For instance, if we roll a die, what is the sample space?
It would be {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6}.
Exactly! So if I say I want to find the probability of getting an even number when we roll the die, what would our event E look like?
The event E would be {2, 4, 6}.
Perfect! You’re getting the hang of it. Remember, event E is just a subset of the sample space. Let's recap this concept before moving on.
To wrap up our discussion, let's define some key terms clearly. Can someone remind us what an 'experiment' is?
An experiment is an action that produces outcomes.
Excellent. And how about 'trial'?
A trial is when you perform the experiment once.
Correct! Now, what's an outcome?
It's the result of a trial.
Right! And finally, can someone summarize what sample space and events are?
The sample space is all possible outcomes, and an event is a subset of those outcomes.
Well done, everyone! Understanding these definitions is crucial for diving deeper into probability. Let's summarize the main points.
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The section outlines fundamental terms such as experiment, trial, outcome, sample space, and event, providing definitions and examples to illustrate their significance in probability. Understanding these terms is essential for grasping more complex probability concepts.
In section 7.2 'Basic Terms', we delve into fundamental concepts in probability that are foundational for understanding how probability works in practice. We start with an experiment, defined as any action that can produce results or outcomes, like tossing a coin. Each time we perform this action, we conduct a trial. The outcome of a trial is one specific result, which could be heads or tails in the case of a coin toss.
We also introduce the concept of sample space (S), which is the complete set of all possible outcomes of an experiment, such as {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6} when rolling a die. This leads us to define an event (E), which is a specific subset of the sample space, allowing us to focus on outcomes of interest. An example provided helps solidify these concepts: when rolling a die, the sample space encompasses six values, illustrating how we can organize and analyze possible results efficiently. Understanding these basic terms is pivotal as they serve as the building blocks for more advanced probability concepts discussed in subsequent sections.
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● Experiment: An action that produces outcomes (e.g., tossing a coin).
An experiment is any action or process that results in one or more outcomes. For example, when you toss a coin, the act of tossing is the experiment, and it has two possible outcomes: heads or tails.
Think of an experiment like baking a cake. The process of mixing ingredients and putting it in the oven is your experiment. The outcome could be a delicious cake, a half-baked mess, or a burnt cake.
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● Trial: Performing the experiment once.
A trial refers to the act of carrying out the experiment a single time. In our coin-tossing example, if you toss the coin once, that toss is a trial. Each trial can lead to different outcomes if repeated.
Imagine you are rolling a die. Every time you roll it once, that counts as one trial. If you roll it three times, you have conducted three trials, each possibly resulting in a different number showing.
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● Outcome: The result of a trial (e.g., heads or tails).
The outcome is the specific result that comes from a trial. In our coin-tossing experiment, the possible outcomes are either heads or tails, depending on how the coin lands after being tossed.
Think of an outcome like scoring a goal in soccer. After a match (trial), the outcome could be a win, loss, or draw. Each match can end in one specific outcome.
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● Sample Space (S): Set of all possible outcomes.
The sample space is a concept that encompasses every possible outcome of an experiment. For instance, when tossing a coin, the sample space would be {Heads, Tails}. It acts as a set, containing all possible results.
Imagine creating a playlist with every song you own. This playlist represents the sample space of your music collection. Each song is a possible outcome that you can listen to.
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● Event (E): A subset of the sample space.
An event is a specific set of outcomes from the sample space. It can include one or more outcomes. For example, if our sample space is {Heads, Tails}, an event might be getting 'Heads', which is a specific subset.
If we look at the weather for a week and define a rainy day as an event, this event is a subset of all the possible weather outcomes (sunny, rainy, windy, etc.) for the week.
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✦ Example:
When a die is rolled, what is the sample space?
Solution:
Sample space = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6}
In this example, rolling a die is our experiment. The sample space consists of all the faces of the die that can appear when rolled. Therefore, the sample space for a standard six-sided die is {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6}, which covers all possible outcomes.
Rolling a die is like drawing a card from a standard deck of playing cards. Just like each side of the die shows a number from 1 to 6, each card represents a suit and number within the range of possible outcomes from the deck.
Learn essential terms and foundational ideas that form the basis of the topic.
Key Concepts
Experiment: An action producing outcomes.
Trial: The execution of an experiment.
Outcome: The result of a single trial.
Sample Space (S): All possible results of an experiment.
Event (E): A specific set of outcomes from the sample space.
See how the concepts apply in real-world scenarios to understand their practical implications.
When a coin is flipped, its possible outcomes are heads or tails. Therefore, the sample space for this experiment is S = {Heads, Tails}.
When rolling a die, the sample space is S = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6}, which includes all possible outcomes of the die.
Use mnemonics, acronyms, or visual cues to help remember key information more easily.
In an experiment, you find the score, with trials adding to the lore.
Imagine a child flipping a coin, wondering if it will land heads or tails. Each flip represents a trial of her experiment, where the sample space is simply heads and tails, and her excitement builds as she counts every flip's outcome.
E-T-O-S-E: ‘Every Trial Offers Some Events’ to remember Experiment, Trial, Outcome, Sample Space, Event.
Review key concepts with flashcards.
Review the Definitions for terms.
Term: Experiment
Definition:
An action that produces outcomes.
Term: Trial
Definition:
Performing the experiment once.
Term: Outcome
Definition:
The result of a trial.
Term: Sample Space (S)
Definition:
The set of all possible outcomes.
Term: Event (E)
Definition:
A subset of the sample space.