Probability | Brilliant Math & Science Wiki (2024)

A probability is a number that represents the likelihood of an uncertain event. Probabilities are always between 0 and 1, inclusive. The larger the probability, the more likely the event is to happen. A probability of 0 means that the event is impossible; it will never happen. A probability of 1 means that the event is assured; it will always happen. All other values between 0 and 1 represent various levels of likelihood.

The study of probability is important because it deals with quantifying problems with uncertain results. For example, in manufacturing, it is always uncertain whether or not a manufacturing process will produce a product with defects. It would be incredibly costly and excessive to have a Quality Assurance team meticulously test every single product that goes out the door. Understanding the probability of a defect, however, allows a manufacturing company to handle defects much more intelligently.

The applications of probability are virtually limitless, but a few of those applications will be covered on this page.

There are two main interpretations of probability: objectivist probability and subjectivist probability.

Objectivist probability deals with experiments that can be repeated many times in order to do analysis on the outcomes. An example of this would be the analysis of clinical drug trials. Scientists and doctors will give trial participants a new drug, and over the course of the experiment, those scientists and doctors will analyze the effectiveness of the drug. Since there are many participants in a drug trial, a well-designed experiment will allow the doctors and scientists to assign the drug a probability of its effectiveness. This probability would represent the proportion of participants that received a beneficial effect from the drug.

Some uncertain events do not have the opportunity to be tested over many trials, but an assignment of probability is still desired. In this case, mathematicians will assign a probability as a measurement of the degree of belief that some event will happen. This is called subjectivist probability. An example of this would be weather forecasting. Meteorologists assign probabilities to certain weather events happening, like a chance of rain in a certain area. These probabilities are calculated using data gathered from satellites as well as historical data. Unlike with objectivist probability, this probability cannot be tested over many trials because the exact circ*mstances that led to the prediction will never repeat themselves again.

Whenever a person makes an investment, that person is engaging in analysis of probability, whether that person realizes it or not. Every investment has some degree of uncertainty. No one can be sure what the value of that investment will be in the future. By spending money on an investment, you are essentially saying that there is a high probability that the investment will increase in value.

Professional financial analysts tend to put a more explicit emphasis on probability when doing analysis of investments. Financial analysts will use historical data and the everyday flow of information to assign probabilities that an investment will increase or decrease in value. These analyses will feed into the market and affect the prices of goods.

In this example, if many financial analysts are obtaining the same result when they calculate the future value of the company, then the market would adjust, and the value of the company would change.

Probability is used in the study of medicine to quantify the effectiveness of drugs and medical procedures. Before a drug can go to market, it has to pass clinical trials. In a clinical trial, many participants are given a drug, and the effectiveness of that drug is measured over time. There is also a group of participants known as the "control group." In this group, participants are made to believe that they are given a drug, but they are in fact given a placebo (a harmless sugar pill).

Scientists measure the effectiveness of the drug group vs. the effectiveness of the control group. A great deal of analysis is done to ensure that the drug is not just effective, but that it is better than doing nothing at all (the control group). Whether or not a drug is actually effective can be a great source of contention among the medical research community.

The study of probability allows for intelligent decision-making in manufacturing. In particular, it allows factory managers to make cost-effective decisions when it comes to quality control. By analyzing the probability of a defective product and the financial consequences of a defective product, factory managers are able to use their money and resources most effectively to help produce quality products.

• Uniform Probability (by Outcomes)

• Probability - Rule of Sum

• Conditional Probability

• Probability - Independent Events

• Probability - Rule of Product

• Probability - by Complement

• Probability - Problem Solving