Google ClassroomGoogle Classroom
GeoGebraGeoGebra Lesson

Conditional Probability in Two-Way Tables

Investigate conditional probabilities and the relationships between events as the contents of a jar change.

Task 1

Putting It All Together

Answer these open ended questions on your own or with others to form deeper math connections.

Task 2

Place 6 spotted and striped balls in the jar along with 5 spotted balls that are not striped. Calculate P(A|B), the probability that a randomly selected ball is spotted, given that you know it is striped. Can you explain the results?

Task 3

Place 3 spotted balls that are not striped in the container with 5 balls that are neither spotted nor striped. Why is P(A|B) undefined in this case? In general, what condition must exist if P(A|B) is undefined? Can P(B|A) be undefined? If so, under what conditions?

Task 4

Fill the container with a random assortment of balls, including at least one ball of each type, and evaluate P(A|B), the probability that a randomly selected ball is spotted, given that you know it is striped. Can you explain why P(A|B) is equal to P(A and B)/P(B)? Will this relationship always hold? If not, what are the exceptions?

Task 5

Under what conditions is P(A|B) equal to P(B|A)?