Math Problem Statement

Imagine a software development team managing packages for a new project. The team uses two different external libraries (Lib 𝐴 & Lib 𝐡) for development. Also an internal testing framework is used by the team Historical Usage Data suggests: ● Developers are twice as likely to use Lib 𝐴 compared to Lib 𝐡. ● Developers are twice as likely to use external libraries (𝐴 or 𝐡) compared to the internal testing framework. ● Developers cannot use both libraries and the internal testing framework together.
● There's a 20% chance a developer might use both Lib 𝐴 and Lib 𝐡 together.
Answer the following. a. Probability of using Lib 𝐡?
b. Probability of using the Testing Framework?
c. Probability of using Lib 𝐴 given that Lib 𝐡 is currently in use?

Solution

Let's analyze and solve the problem step by step.


Assumptions and Definitions

  1. Lib A = Library A
  2. Lib B = Library B
  3. Testing Framework = Internal testing framework
  4. The probabilities of each event are calculated under the given constraints:
    • Developers are twice as likely to use Lib A compared to Lib B.
    • Developers are twice as likely to use external libraries (A or B) compared to the Testing Framework.
    • A developer cannot use both the Testing Framework and external libraries together.
    • There is a 20% probability that a developer uses both Lib A and Lib B together.

Step 1: Probability Definitions

Let the probabilities of using Lib A, Lib B, and the Testing Framework be represented as:

  • P(A)P(A) = Probability of using Lib A.
  • P(B)P(B) = Probability of using Lib B.
  • P(TF)P(TF) = Probability of using the Testing Framework.

From the question:

  1. Lib A is twice as likely as Lib B: P(A)=2P(B)P(A) = 2P(B)

  2. External libraries are twice as likely as the Testing Framework: P(AβˆͺB)=2P(TF)P(A \cup B) = 2P(TF)

  3. Probability of using both Lib A and Lib B: P(A∩B)=0.2P(A \cap B) = 0.2

  4. The total probability of a developer choosing any option must sum to 1: P(AβˆͺB)+P(TF)=1P(A \cup B) + P(TF) = 1


Step 2: Solve for Probabilities

  1. Using P(A)=2P(B)P(A) = 2P(B), let P(B)=xP(B) = x. Then P(A)=2xP(A) = 2x.

  2. The probability of using external libraries is: P(AβˆͺB)=P(A)+P(B)βˆ’P(A∩B)P(A \cup B) = P(A) + P(B) - P(A \cap B) Substituting values: P(AβˆͺB)=2x+xβˆ’0.2=3xβˆ’0.2P(A \cup B) = 2x + x - 0.2 = 3x - 0.2

  3. Using the fact that P(AβˆͺB)=2P(TF)P(A \cup B) = 2P(TF): 3xβˆ’0.2=2P(TF)3x - 0.2 = 2P(TF)

  4. The total probability is: P(AβˆͺB)+P(TF)=1P(A \cup B) + P(TF) = 1 Substituting P(TF)=3xβˆ’0.22P(TF) = \frac{3x - 0.2}{2}: 3xβˆ’0.2+3xβˆ’0.22=13x - 0.2 + \frac{3x - 0.2}{2} = 1 Solve this equation: 6xβˆ’0.4+3xβˆ’0.22=1\frac{6x - 0.4 + 3x - 0.2}{2} = 1 9xβˆ’0.62=1\frac{9x - 0.6}{2} = 1 9xβˆ’0.6=29x - 0.6 = 2 9x=2.69x = 2.6 x=2.69=0.2889x = \frac{2.6}{9} = 0.2889

  5. Now we calculate the individual probabilities:

    • P(B)=x=0.2889P(B) = x = 0.2889
    • P(A)=2x=2(0.2889)=0.5778P(A) = 2x = 2(0.2889) = 0.5778
    • P(TF)=3xβˆ’0.22=3(0.2889)βˆ’0.22=0.8667βˆ’0.22=0.3334P(TF) = \frac{3x - 0.2}{2} = \frac{3(0.2889) - 0.2}{2} = \frac{0.8667 - 0.2}{2} = 0.3334.

Step 3: Solve for Each Question

a. Probability of using Lib B:

P(B)=0.2889P(B) = 0.2889

b. Probability of using the Testing Framework:

P(TF)=0.3334P(TF) = 0.3334

c. Probability of using Lib A given Lib B is in use:

Using the conditional probability formula: P(A∣B)=P(A∩B)P(B)P(A|B) = \frac{P(A \cap B)}{P(B)} Substitute values: P(A∣B)=0.20.2889=0.6923P(A|B) = \frac{0.2}{0.2889} = 0.6923


Final Answers

a. P(B)=0.2889P(B) = 0.2889
b. P(TF)=0.3334P(TF) = 0.3334
c. P(A∣B)=0.6923P(A|B) = 0.6923


Follow-Up Questions

  1. How would these probabilities change if the chance of using both Lib A and Lib B was different?
  2. What is the probability of using neither the Testing Framework nor the external libraries?
  3. Can the Testing Framework's usage probability be further broken down into scenarios?
  4. How does the assumption that libraries and the Testing Framework cannot be used together simplify the problem?
  5. What if P(AβˆͺB)β‰ 2P(TF)P(A \cup B) \neq 2P(TF)? How would this affect the results?

Tip: When dealing with probabilities, always check for constraints (e.g., total probability = 1) to validate your results.

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Math Problem Analysis

Mathematical Concepts

Probability Theory
Conditional Probability
Set Theory

Formulas

P(A βˆͺ B) = P(A) + P(B) - P(A ∩ B)
P(A | B) = P(A ∩ B) / P(B)
Total Probability Rule: P(A βˆͺ B) + P(TF) = 1

Theorems

Law of Total Probability
Conditional Probability Theorem

Suitable Grade Level

Grades 10-12