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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 does the ideal gas law states
Joy Reply
Three charges q_{1}=+3\mu C, q_{2}=+6\mu C and q_{3}=+8\mu C are located at (2,0)m (0,0)m and (0,3) coordinates respectively. Find the magnitude and direction acted upon q_{2} by the two other charges.Draw the correct graphical illustration of the problem above showing the direction of all forces.
Kate Reply
To solve this problem, we need to first find the net force acting on charge q_{2}. The magnitude of the force exerted by q_{1} on q_{2} is given by F=\frac{kq_{1}q_{2}}{r^{2}} where k is the Coulomb constant, q_{1} and q_{2} are the charges of the particles, and r is the distance between them.
Muhammed
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Capacitor is a separation of opposite charges using an insulator of very small dimension between them. Capacitor is used for allowing an AC (alternating current) to pass while a DC (direct current) is blocked.
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8m/s²
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velocity can be 72 km/h in question. 72 km/h=20 m/s, v^2=2.a.x , 20^2=2.a.50, a=4 m/s^2.
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Someone
which has a higher temperature, 1cup of boiling water or 1teapot of boiling water which can transfer more heat 1cup of boiling water or 1 teapot of boiling water explain your . answer
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I believe temperature being an intensive property does not change for any amount of boiling water whereas heat being an extensive property changes with amount/size of the system.
Someone
Scratch that
Someone
temperature for any amount of water to boil at ntp is 100⁰C (it is a state function and and intensive property) and it depends both will give same amount of heat because the surface available for heat transfer is greater in case of the kettle as well as the heat stored in it but if you talk.....
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physics, biology and chemistry this is my Field
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field is a region of space under the influence of some physical properties
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Are you really asking if two bodies have to be charged to be influenced by Coulombs Law?
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like charges repel while unlike charges atttact
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Source:  OpenStax, Collaborative statistics (custom online version modified by t. short). OpenStax CNX. Jul 15, 2013 Download for free at http://cnx.org/content/col11476/1.5
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