<< Chapter < Page Chapter >> Page >
This module introduces tree diagrams as a method for making some probability problems easier to solve. This module is included in the Elementary Statistics textbook/collection as an optional lesson.

A tree diagram is a special type of graph used to determine the outcomes of an experiment. It consists of "branches" that are labeled with either frequencies or probabilities. Tree diagrams can make some probability problems easier to visualize and solve. The following example illustrates how to use a tree diagram.

In an urn, there are 11 balls. Three balls are red ( R ) and 8 balls are blue ( B ). Draw two balls, one at a time, with replacement . "With replacement" means that you put the first ball back in the urn before you select the second ball. The tree diagram using frequencies that show all the possible outcomes follows.

Tree diagram consisting of the first draw for the first branch and the second draw for the second branch. The first branch consists of 2 lines, 3R and 8B, and the second branch consists of 2 sets of 2 lines of 3R and 8B each. The lines produce 9RR, 24RB, 24BR, and 64BB.
Total = 64 + 24 + 24 + 9 = 121

The first set of branches represents the first draw. The second set of branches represents the second draw. Each of the outcomes is distinct. In fact, we can list each red ball as R1 , R2 , and R3 and each blue ball as B1 , B2 , B3 , B4 , B5 , B6 , B7 , and B8 . Then the 9 RR outcomes can be written as:

  • R1R1
  • R1R2
  • R1R3
  • R2R1
  • R2R2
  • R2R3
  • R3R1
  • R3R2
  • R3R3

The other outcomes are similar.

There are a total of 11 balls in the urn. Draw two balls, one at a time, and with replacement. There are 11  ⋅  11  =  121 outcomes, the size of the sample space .

List the 24 BR outcomes: B1R1 , B1R2 , B1R3 , ...

  • B1R1
  • B1R2
  • B1R3
  • B2R1
  • B2R2
  • B2R3
  • B3R1
  • B3R2
  • B3R3
  • B4R1
  • B4R2
  • B4R3
  • B5R1
  • B5R2
  • B5R3
  • B6R1
  • B6R2
  • B6R3
  • B7R1
  • B7R2
  • B7R3
  • B8R1
  • B8R2
  • B8R3

Using the tree diagram, calculate P(RR) .

P(RR) = 3 11 3 11 = 9 121

Using the tree diagram, calculate P(RB OR BR) .

P(RB OR BR) = 3 11 8 11 + 8 11 3 11 = 48 121

Using the tree diagram, calculate P(R on 1st draw AND B on 2nd draw) .

P(R on 1st draw AND B on 2nd draw) = P(RB) = 3 11 8 11 = 24 121

Using the tree diagram, calculate P(R on 2nd draw given B on 1st draw) .

P(R on 2nd draw given B on 1st draw) = P(R on 2nd | B on 1st) = 24 88 = 3 11

This problem is a conditional. The sample space has been reduced to those outcomes that already have a blue on the first draw. There are 24  +  64  =  88 possible outcomes (24 BR and 64 BB ). Twenty-four of the 88 possible outcomes are BR . 24 88 = 3 11 .

Using the tree diagram, calculate P(BB) .

P(BB)  =  64 121

Using the tree diagram, calculate P(B on the 2nd draw given R on the first draw) .

P(B on 2nd draw | R on 1st draw)  =  8 11

There are 9  +  24 outcomes that have R on the first draw (9 RR and 24 RB ). The sample space is then 9  +  24  =  33 . Twenty-four of the 33 outcomes have B on the second draw. The probability is then 24 33 .

An urn has 3 red marbles and 8 blue marbles in it. Draw two marbles, one at a time, this time without replacement from the urn. "Without replacement" means that you do not put the first ball back before you select the second ball. Below is a tree diagram. The branches are labeled with probabilities instead of frequencies. The numbers at the ends of the branches are calculated by multiplying the numbers on the two corresponding branches, for example, 3 11 2 10 = 6 110 .

Tree diagram consisting of the first draw for the first branch and the second draw for the second branch. The first branch consists of 2 lines, B 8/11 and R 3/11, and the second branch consists of 2 sets of 2 lines with B 7/10 and R 3/10 extending from line B 8/11 and B 8/10 and R 2/10 coming from line R 3/11. These 4 lines produce BB 56/110, BR 24/110, RB 24/110, and RR 6/10.
Total = 56 + 24 + 24 + 6 110 = 110 110 = 1
If you draw a red on the first draw from the 3 red possibilities, there are 2 red left to draw on the second draw. You do not put back or replace the first ball after you have drawn it. You draw without replacement , so that on the second draw there are 10 marbles left in the urn.

Calculate the following probabilities using the tree diagram.

P(RR) =

P(RR) = 3 11 2 10 = 6 110

Fill in the blanks:

P(RB OR BR) = 3 11 8 10 + (___)(___) = 48 110

P(RB or BR) = 3 11 8 10 + ( 8 11 ) ( 3 10 ) = 48 110

P(R on 2d | B on 1st) =

P(R on 2d | B on 1st)  =  3 10

Fill in the blanks:

P(R on 1st and B on 2nd)  =  P(RB)  =  (___)(___)  =  24 110

P(R on 1st and B on 2nd)  =  P(RB)  =  ( 3 11 ) ( 8 10 )  =  24 110

P(BB) =

P(BB)  =  8 11  ⋅  7 10

P(B on 2nd | R on 1st) =

There are 6  +  24 outcomes that have R on the first draw (6 RR and 24 RB ). The 6 and the 24 are frequencies. They are also the numerators of the fractions 6 110 and 24 110 . The sample space is no longer 110 but 6  +  24  =  30 . Twenty-four of the 30 outcomes have B on the second draw. The probability is then 24 30 . Did you get this answer?

If we are using probabilities, we can label the tree in the following general way.

Tree diagram consisting of a first branch and a second branch. The first branch consists of 2 lines, P(R) and P(B), and the second branch consists of 2 sets of 2 lines with one set of P(B)(B) and P(R)(B) from line P(B) and one set of P(B)(R) and P(R)(R) from line P(R). P(B)(B) and P(R)(B) produce P(B and B)=P(BB) and P(B and R)=P(BR) and P(B)(R) and P(R)(R) produce P(R and B)=P(RB) and P(R and R)=P(RR).
  • P(R|R) here means P(R on 2nd | R on 1st)
  • P(B|R) here means P(B on 2nd | R on 1st)
  • P(R|B) here means P(R on 2nd | B on 1st)
  • P(B|B) here means P(B on 2nd | B on 1st)

Questions & Answers

what is microbiology
Agebe Reply
What is a cell
Odelana Reply
what is cell
Mohammed
how does Neisseria cause meningitis
Nyibol Reply
what is microbiologist
Muhammad Reply
what is errata
Muhammad
is the branch of biology that deals with the study of microorganisms.
Ntefuni Reply
What is microbiology
Mercy Reply
studies of microbes
Louisiaste
when we takee the specimen which lumbar,spin,
Ziyad Reply
How bacteria create energy to survive?
Muhamad Reply
Bacteria doesn't produce energy they are dependent upon their substrate in case of lack of nutrients they are able to make spores which helps them to sustain in harsh environments
_Adnan
But not all bacteria make spores, l mean Eukaryotic cells have Mitochondria which acts as powerhouse for them, since bacteria don't have it, what is the substitution for it?
Muhamad
they make spores
Louisiaste
what is sporadic nd endemic, epidemic
Aminu Reply
the significance of food webs for disease transmission
Abreham
food webs brings about an infection as an individual depends on number of diseased foods or carriers dully.
Mark
explain assimilatory nitrate reduction
Esinniobiwa Reply
Assimilatory nitrate reduction is a process that occurs in some microorganisms, such as bacteria and archaea, in which nitrate (NO3-) is reduced to nitrite (NO2-), and then further reduced to ammonia (NH3).
Elkana
This process is called assimilatory nitrate reduction because the nitrogen that is produced is incorporated in the cells of microorganisms where it can be used in the synthesis of amino acids and other nitrogen products
Elkana
Examples of thermophilic organisms
Shu Reply
Give Examples of thermophilic organisms
Shu
advantages of normal Flora to the host
Micheal Reply
Prevent foreign microbes to the host
Abubakar
they provide healthier benefits to their hosts
ayesha
They are friends to host only when Host immune system is strong and become enemies when the host immune system is weakened . very bad relationship!
Mark
what is cell
faisal Reply
cell is the smallest unit of life
Fauziya
cell is the smallest unit of life
Akanni
ok
Innocent
cell is the structural and functional unit of life
Hasan
is the fundamental units of Life
Musa
what are emergency diseases
Micheal Reply
There are nothing like emergency disease but there are some common medical emergency which can occur simultaneously like Bleeding,heart attack,Breathing difficulties,severe pain heart stock.Hope you will get my point .Have a nice day ❣️
_Adnan
define infection ,prevention and control
Innocent
I think infection prevention and control is the avoidance of all things we do that gives out break of infections and promotion of health practices that promote life
Lubega
Heyy Lubega hussein where are u from?
_Adnan
en français
Adama
which site have a normal flora
ESTHER Reply
Many sites of the body have it Skin Nasal cavity Oral cavity Gastro intestinal tract
Safaa
skin
Asiina
skin,Oral,Nasal,GIt
Sadik
How can Commensal can Bacteria change into pathogen?
Sadik
How can Commensal Bacteria change into pathogen?
Sadik
all
Tesfaye
by fussion
Asiina
what are the advantages of normal Flora to the host
Micheal
what are the ways of control and prevention of nosocomial infection in the hospital
Micheal
Got questions? Join the online conversation and get instant answers!
Jobilize.com Reply
Practice Key Terms 2

Get Jobilize Job Search Mobile App in your pocket Now!

Get it on Google Play Download on the App Store Now




Source:  OpenStax, Collaborative statistics using spreadsheets. OpenStax CNX. Jan 05, 2016 Download for free at http://legacy.cnx.org/content/col11521/1.23
Google Play and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google Inc.

Notification Switch

Would you like to follow the 'Collaborative statistics using spreadsheets' conversation and receive update notifications?

Ask