twobagels wrote:
Events A and B occur independently of one another. The probability that neither event occurs is 6 times the probability that both events occur. Furthermore, the probability that event B occurs and event A does not occur is 50 percent greater than the probability that event A occurs but event B does not occur. What is the probability that event B occurs?
A. 1/5
B. 1/4
C. 1/3
D. 1/2
E. 3/4
Let the probability that event A and B occur be A and B respectively, so probability that A and B do not occur are (1-A) and (1-B) respectively.
Quote:
The probability that neither event occurs is 6 times the probability that both events occur.
The probability that neither event occurs = (1-A)(1-B)
The probability that both events occur = A*B
So (1-A)(1-B)=6AB......1-A-B+AB=6AB
Since we are looking at value of B, let us get the equation in terms of B lone.
1-B=5AB+A.......\(A=\frac{1-B}{5B+1}\)...(i)
Quote:
Furthermore, the probability that event B occurs and event A does not occur is 50 percent greater than the probability that event A occurs but event B does not occur.
The probability that event B occurs and event A does not occur = B*(1-A)
The probability that event A occurs but event B does not occur = A(1-B)
So, \(B(1-A)=\frac{3}{2}*A(1-B)\)..........
\(2B-2AB=3A-3AB.......2B=3A-AB\).......
A=\(\frac{2B}{3-B}\)...(ii)
Equating (i) and (ii)
\(A=\frac{1-B}{5B+1}=\frac{2B}{3-B}\).........
\((1-B)(3-B)=2B(5B+1)\).........
\(3-4B+B^2=10B^2+2B\).......
\(9B^2+6B-3=0.........3B^2+2B-1=0\)
\(3B^2+3B-B-1=0.......3B(B+1)-1(B+1)=0.......(3B-1)(B+1)=0\)
So B=-1 or B=\(\frac{1}{3}\)
As B cannot be less than 0, B=\(\frac{1}{3}\)
C