Find the best solutions to your problems with the help of IDNLearn.com's expert users. Get accurate and comprehensive answers to your questions from our community of knowledgeable professionals.

Select the correct answer.

The probability of event [tex]\( A \)[/tex] is [tex]\( x \)[/tex], and the probability of event [tex]\( B \)[/tex] is [tex]\( y \)[/tex]. If the two events are independent, which condition must be true?

A. [tex]\( P(B \mid A) = xy \)[/tex]
B. [tex]\( P(B \mid A) = x \)[/tex]
C. [tex]\( P(A \mid B) = x \)[/tex]
D. [tex]\( P(A \mid B) = y \)[/tex]


Sagot :

To solve this problem, we first need to recall what it means for two events to be independent. Two events [tex]\(A\)[/tex] and [tex]\(B\)[/tex] are independent if the occurrence of one event does not affect the probability of the occurrence of the other event. Mathematically, this can be defined as:

[tex]\[ P(A \text{ and } B) = P(A) \cdot P(B) \][/tex]

Given that we have two independent events, [tex]\(A\)[/tex] and [tex]\(B\)[/tex], with probabilities [tex]\(P(A) = x\)[/tex] and [tex]\(P(B) = y\)[/tex], we need to determine which of the given statements is true.

Let's inspect each of the given options:

### Option A: [tex]\( P(B \mid A) = xy \)[/tex]

The conditional probability [tex]\( P(B \mid A) \)[/tex] is defined as the probability of [tex]\(B\)[/tex] occurring given that [tex]\(A\)[/tex] has occurred. Using the definition of conditional probability:

[tex]\[ P(B \mid A) = \frac{P(A \text{ and } B)}{P(A)} \][/tex]

Since [tex]\(A\)[/tex] and [tex]\(B\)[/tex] are independent events, we can substitute [tex]\( P(A \text{ and } B) \)[/tex] with [tex]\( P(A) \cdot P(B) \)[/tex]:

[tex]\[ P(B \mid A) = \frac{P(A) \cdot P(B)}{P(A)} = \frac{x \cdot y}{x} \][/tex]

Since [tex]\( x \neq 0 \)[/tex],

[tex]\[ P(B \mid A) = y \][/tex]

This shows that option A, which states [tex]\( P(B \mid A) = xy \)[/tex], is incorrect.

### Option B: [tex]\( P(B \mid A) = x \)[/tex]

From the calculation above, we have shown that:

[tex]\[ P(B \mid A) = y \][/tex]

Thus, option B, which states [tex]\( P(B \mid A) = x \)[/tex], is incorrect.

### Option C: [tex]\( P(A \mid B) = x \)[/tex]

Similarly, the conditional probability [tex]\( P(A \mid B) \)[/tex] is given by:

[tex]\[ P(A \mid B) = \frac{P(A \text{ and } B)}{P(B)} \][/tex]

Using the independence of [tex]\(A\)[/tex] and [tex]\(B\)[/tex],

[tex]\[ P(A \mid B) = \frac{P(A) \cdot P(B)}{P(B)} = \frac{x \cdot y}{y} \][/tex]

Since [tex]\( y \neq 0 \)[/tex],

[tex]\[ P(A \mid B) = x \][/tex]

This shows that option C, [tex]\( P(A \mid B) = x \)[/tex], is correct.

### Option D: [tex]\( P(A \mid B) = y \)[/tex]

From our previous calculation,

[tex]\[ P(A \mid B) = x \][/tex]

So, option D, which states [tex]\( P(A \mid B) = y \)[/tex], is incorrect.

Therefore, the correct answer is:

[tex]\[ \boxed{1} \][/tex]

So, among the given options, the condition that must be true for independent events is represented by option C: [tex]\( P(A \mid B) = x \)[/tex].