Pages

Thursday, February 20, 2014

The Probability




Probability is a measure or estimation of the likeliness or likelihood that an event will occur. Probability is used to quantify an attitude of mind towards some proposition of whose truth we are not certain. The proposition of interest is usually of the form "Will a specific event occur?" The attitude of mind is of the form "How certain are we that the event will occur?" The certainty we adopt can be described in terms of a numerical measure and this number, between 0 and 1 (where 0 indicates impossibility and 1 indicates certainty), we call probability. Thus the higher the probability of an event, the more certain we are that the event will occur. A simple example would be the toss of a fair coin. Since the the 2 outcomes are deemed equiprobable, the probability of "heads" equals the probability of "tails" and each probability is 1/2 or equivalently a 50% chance of either "heads" or "tails".                              Source - Wikipedia



Probability Questions
: -
   Let us find the prob for each event when a coin is tossed five hundred times and the frequency of the two events is given as Head: Three Hundred, tails = two hundreds.


Solution : - We are given that the total number of trials is five hundred. Therefore, the number of times E happens, i.e., the number of time the head comes up is three hundred.  Therefore the probability of head = the number of head / Total number of the trials Or P (E) = 300/ 500 = 0.6. Similarly the probability of tail = the number of tail / Total number of the trials Or P (F) = 200/ 500 = 0.4. Hence the prob of success is zero point six and prob of failure is zero point four. The point which is to be noted down is that the total sum of both the probability is equal to one.

Example: - Let us find the prob, when the two coins are tossed simultaneously for four hundred and eighty times and we get the following events. Two heads: one hundred and twenty times (120), One head:  Two hundred and three times. (203), No head:  one hundred and fifty seven time (157)

Solution:-  (1) The probability of getting two heads = the total number of heads divided by the total number of chances. The probability of getting two heads = 120 / 480 = ¼ = 0.25. The probability of getting one heads = 203 / 480   = 0.42292

The probability of getting no heads = 157 / 480 = 0.32708

We can see that P (E₁) + P (E₂) + P (E₃) = 1, cover all the outcomes of a trial.
Or P (E₁) + P (E₂) + P (E₃) = 0. 25 + 0.42292 + 0. 32708 = 1

Example:- The record of a weather station  shows that the out of past two hundred consecutive days, its weather forecast is correct for one hundred and forty five ( 145)  times. Let us calculate the probability that on a given day it was correct and the probability that on a given day it was not correct.

Solution: - The record of a weather station is available for two hundred consecutive days. The Probability P (E₁) that on a given day the forecast was correct = the number of days when the forecast was correct/ Total number of days for which record is available  Or P (E₁) = 145 / 200 = 0.725. P (E₂) that on a given day it was not correct = 55/200 = 0.275, Notice that P (the forecast was correct + the forecast was not correct) = 0.275 + 0.725 = 1

How do you Find Probability: -The word probably, doubts most probably, chances etc are used to define the uncertainty. The uncertainty of the probably etc can be measured numerically by means of probability. Therefore the probability started with gambling, it has been used extensively in the field of physical sciences, commerce, etc. Let there are n number of trials. The probability of an event E happening, is given by P (E) =
Number of trials in which the event happened / the total number of trials.

Let there are n number of trials. The probability of an event E happening, is given by P (E) = Number of trials in which the event happened / the total number of trials.

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Derivative Of Tanx?


Derivative of tan x is a tool which is used to find the differentiation of tan x. Before we understand the differentiation of tan x it is important to understand about tan x. If we will describe tan x in terms of sin x and cos x, then it can be defined as the ratio of Sin x and Cos x.

Mathematically, tan x = Sin x/ Cos x


It is important to note that tan x is the reciprocal of the Cot x and vice versa. Apart from that it is also important to note that the derivative is simple denoted as d/dx. Now the question arises what is the Derivative of Tanx? So it can be simply written as d/dx (tan x).


The value of d (tan x)/dx is equal to Sec^2 x. Now in the coming context, you will learn how the derivative of tan x that is d (tan x)/dx is equal to Sec^2 x. This can be explained by the basic concepts of trigonometry and rules of derivative. 

So to understand the derivative of tan x it is really important to have thorough knowledge of the trigonometry as well as the differentiation. The proof of the derivative of tan x can be done with the help of the rules of the differentiation and trigonometry which are as shown below:-
 

We know that tanx = Sin x/ Cosx
 

So the derivative of tan x, that is, d (tan x)/dx = d (Sin x/Cosx)/ dx
 

We know that by the divisibility rule of differentiation,
 

That is, d (u/v)/ d x = (v du/dx – u d v/dx)/ v^2
 

So d (tan x)/dx = d (Sin x/Cos x)/ dx
= (Cos x d(Sinx)/dx- Sin x d(Cosx)/dx )/ Cos ^2 x
= (Cos x. Cos x – Sin (- Sinx) ) / Cos^2 x
= ( Cos^2x + Sin^2x) / Cos ^ 2x
 

We know that Cos^2x + Sin^2x = 1
 

Therefore, d (tanx)/dx = 1/ Cos^2 x
 

We Know that 1/ Cos x = Sec x (This is as per the trigonometric rules)
 

So d (tan x)/dx = 1/ Cos^2 x = Sec^2 x (This is in line with the above equation)
 

Hence we have seen the proof that d/dx of tanx is equal to Sec^2 x, that is, d (tanx)/dx = 1/ Cos^2 x = Sec^2 x. But from above proof, we have learnt that without knowing the differentiation rules as well as trigonometric rules, it is impossible to prove the differentiation result of the trigonometric function.

Differentiation of one function can also help in finding the differentiation of other functions. So it is very important that we should know the differentiation of each and every function. For example sometimes the question requirement is to find the differentiation of the trigonometric as well as exponential, so in that case to find the differentiation we need to know the rules along with the individual derivative of the functions.
 

We can make use of Second Derivative Calculator to find out further derivatives.

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Normal Distributions




Normal Distributions

Normal distribution is also known as Gaussian distribution. It is one of the most commonly found probability distribution when studying theory of probability; more specifically when studying continuous probability distribution. Normal distribution function is a function in which the output is the probability of the occurrence of an event is such that it lies between two real numbered values. This can be illustrated with the help of the following example.

Consider a group of students that have taken a test. The distribution of marks of the students would be a normal distribution. The corresponding probability distribution of the probability of marks obtained by a particular student would also be normally distributed.

This type of distribution (abbreviated as dist’n) is very important in statistics. When the variable in question is real valued as well as random, then this type of dist’n is used when otherwise the dist’n is now known. It finds application in the fields of social sciences and natural sciences.

It is because of the central limit theorem that this dist’n is very useful. According to this theorem, if the conditions influencing the random variable are mild then the probability distribution is normally distributed around the mean. Even of the original dist’n is not normal, it would still give us a dist’n that is centered around the mean. In general the curve of a normal distribution would look as follows:



As we can see in the above picture, the shape of the curve resembles that of a bell. Therefore a normal dist’n curve is sometimes also called a bell curve. However this is not the only dist’n that is bell shaped, there are others as well, such as: Cauchy’s, Student’s, logistic etc. The normal dist’n function can be given by the following formula:
f(x,μ,σ)=1/(σ√2π)*e^(-(x-μ)^2/(2σ^2 ))

Where,
μ is the mean of the dist’n. It is also sometimes called the expected value of the dist’n. It can also be the median or the mode of the data set.
σ is the standard deviation of the data set. That makes σ^2 the variance of the distribution.

A random variable that follows this type of Gaussian distribution is said to be normally distributed. It is also sometimes called a normal deviate. In this dist’n if we have μ=0 and σ=1, then the dist’n is called a standard normal dist’n or a unit normal dist’n and the random variable which follows this dist’n is said to be standard normal deviate.

The value of a normal dist’n is practically zero when the x value goes beyond 3 standard deviations on either side of the mean. That is why this dist’n becomes useless when there are many outliers in the data set.

The most simple case of a normal dist’n that is called the standard normal dist’n can be defined by the probability density function as follows:
φ(x)= 1/√2π e^(-1/2 x^2 )

The total area under this curve is said to be 1.

Thursday, January 23, 2014

Math Phobia


Math phobia is a very common thing in children and parents. As a parent, do you like math. When you were in school, did you fail math was hard, or boring. Sometimes math just looks too difficult. If you let that mental attitudes fester, then you might end up with a phobia. At that time you should take steps to remove the dread of math, but what if your child tells you the same thing in different words – that they have a math phobia.

For Example : Find the value of (1000π)^(2/3)*(512π)^(4/3)
 

Solution : This problem looks hard for some student 
But if you observe
=>1000=2^3*5^3
=>512=2^9
=>(1000π)^(2/3)*(512π)^(4/3)
=>(2^3*5^3π)^(2/3)*(2^9)^(4/3) 
=>(2^3)^(2/3)*(5^3)^(2/3)*π^(2/3)*(2^9)^(4/3)*(π)^(4/3)
=>(2^2)*5^2*2^12*π^(2/3)*π^(4/3)
=>2^(14)*5^2*(π)^[(2/3)+(4/3)]
=>409600π^2                      

Math phobia is the one which is shown by many students, math phobia is the illogical, intense fear of not succeeding in math. It is well known that one is unable to handle the difficulty associated with learning math. Many people assume that math phobia and an inability to be successful in mathematics are inherited from one's parents. Several legitimate factors contribute to, and increase the severity of, this internal representation.

The Teacher

Math tutors play the most important role to remove the dread of math , we know the fact that many students experience math phobia in the traditional classroom, teachers should design classrooms that will make student  feel more successful. The teacher should prepare students in such a manner so that they must have the  level of success or a level of failure which they can tolerate. Therefore, incorrect responses from math tutor must be handled in a positive way to encourage student.

The student can take help of an online math tutor as well. The math tutor needs to stay eager whatever the student’s viewpoint. Like small children like numbers and games with math so they can like math if help throw online math tutor. The methods which are used by the math tutor may affect whether a student feels successful and develops mathematical self-confidence. Finally, parents and teacher attitudes can positively or negatively influence students attitudes toward mathematics, which in turn affect their levels of confidence and this method may useful to remove the dread of math phobia.

Summary:

Math  phobia is common in almost every student. Parents and teacher's right step at the right time can remove this math phobia. Parents should take help from math help online website. Tutor develops student's   mathematical self-confidence.