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Budhaditya_Saha

Archit3110
----P to reach---P to not reach
A--0.6---------0.4
B--0.7----------0.3
C--0.4----------0.6

The probability that either B or C, but not A, reached point Q first:
0.7*0.6*0.4+0.4*0.3*0.4
0.216 option D


Bunuel
3 friends A, B and C started driving from point P towards point Q in their individual cars. The individual probability for A to reach point Q first was 0.6. For B and C, the probabilities to reach point Q first were 0.7 and 0.4 respectively. What is the probability that either B or C, but not A, reached point Q first?


A. 0.048
B. 0.108
C. 0.168
D. 0.216
E. 0.324
­IMO, It should be [P(B) +P(C) - P(B U C)] x [1-P(A)]. If its either B or C that can reach 1st then, shouldn't we subtract the case where both P and Q reach together? 

Correct me if I'm wrong and please elaborate on the solution. Archit3110 Bunuel
In this case, we are talking about arriving first so you cannot have the event of B and C reaching together first­
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Okay. Then what wrong am I doing wrong if I equate it like this?

[P(B) + P(C)]x[1-P(A)].

This translates to probability of B reaching first OR(addition) C reaching first AND(multiplication) A not reaching first.
?? pierren Bunuel

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P(B or C but not A)=P(B reaches first and not A)+P(C reaches first and not A)
P(B reaches first and not A)=0.7×(1−0.6)=0.7×0.4=0.28
P(C reaches first and not A)=0.4×(1−0.6)=0.4×0.4=0.16
P(B or C but not A)=0.28+0.16=0.44
Is this answer wrong?
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P(B or C but not A)=P(B reaches first and not A)+P(C reaches first and not A)
P(B reaches first and not A)=0.7×(1−0.6)=0.7×0.4=0.28
P(C reaches first and not A)=0.4×(1−0.6)=0.4×0.4=0.16
P(B or C but not A)=0.28+0.16=0.44
Is this answer wrong?

Exactly this is the method that I have used. But the answer is probably wrong. But I’m not able to understand where have I mistaken?

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­Let A = 0.6, B = 0.7, C = 0.4

Let ~A = 0.4, ~B = 0.3, ~C = 0.6

From the ques: 

we need to find (~A)[ B * ~C + ~B * C]

= (0.4)[0.7*0.6 + 0.3*0.4]

= 0.4 * 54/100

= 216/1000 = 0.216 
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Why did we discount the possibility of both B and C reaching first, and A not reaching first? [I meant this P(B∩C∩A')]

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Budhaditya_Saha
Okay. Then what wrong am I doing wrong if I equate it like this?

[P(B) + P(C)]x[1-P(A)].

This translates to probability of B reaching first OR(addition) C reaching first AND(multiplication) A not reaching first.
?? pierren Bunuel

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­In fact, if I am right, you are trying to translate the event of (B U C) which again is not possible as two people can not arrive first at the same time.
However, if you want to translate this into a formula, it is P( B U C) = P(B) + P(C) - P(B inter C)
so you would have [P(B) + P(C) - P(B inter C)] * [1 - P(A)], what is wrong in our case with the given meaning of B U C.

I did the same error and corrected myself by thinking with the order, here we need and arrangment / order  as we are talking about an order of arrival.

So the formula is P(B) * [1 - P(C)] * [1 - P(A)] OR [1 - P(B)] * P(C) * [1 - P(A)]­ which means B arrives first and not C and not A OR C arrives first and not B and not A
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