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Solution: 2019 Winter Final - 16

Author: Michiel Smid

Question

You roll a fair red die once and you roll a fair blue die once. These two rolls are independent. Consider the events
  • A = "the sum of the red die and the blue die is 5",
  • B = "the result of the red die is even".
Which of the following is correct?
(a)
The events $A$ and $B$ are independent.
(b)
None of the above.
(c)
All of the above.
(d)
The events $A$ and $B$ are not independent.

Solution

  1. Let’s determine A

    image

    As can be seen, A occurs 4 out of the 36 possible outcomes.

    $ \Pr(A) = \frac{4}{36} $

  2. Let’s determine B

    The red die is even half the time

    $ \Pr(B) = \frac{1}{2} $

  3. Let’s determine $ \Pr(A \cap B) $

    $A \cap B = {(2,3), (4,1)}$

    $|A \cap B| = 2$

    $ \Pr(A \cap B) = \frac{2}{36} $

  4. Profit

    Check if A and B are independent.

    $ \Pr(A \cap B) = \Pr(A) \cdot \Pr(B) $

    $ \frac{2}{36} = \frac{4}{36} \cdot \frac{1}{2} $

    $ \frac{2}{36} = \frac{2}{18} \cdot \frac{1}{2} $

    $ \frac{2}{36} = \frac{2}{36} $