Calculating probability that 3 events occur 1 after other

In summary, the overall probability of all three events occurring is 0.008% or 0.00008 as a decimal. This is calculated by multiplying the individual probabilities of each event occurring while taking into account the dependency between them.
  • #1
isaiahRoberts707
1
0
Let's say we have 3 events that all have a certain chance of occurring. Each latter event occurring depends on if the prior event occurred based on the chance associated with it. For example, if Event #1 does not happen, Event #2 cannot happen. As such, if Event #2 doesn't happen, Event #3 cannot happen. The overall goal is to prevent ever getting to Event #3, but if you do make it to Event #3, what is the chance that it happens too?

Probability for each event:
Event 1: 0.5% chance of occurrence
Event 2: 2% chance of occurrence
Event 3: 20% chance of occurrence

What is the overall probability (as a percentage) that all of these events will occur?

I have tried applying the dependent event probability formula here, but I have found that it doesn't seem to work in this scenario.


If someone could even give me somewhere to start or some applicable formula, It would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
 
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  • #2
That looks straight forward given what you wrote. There is a 0.5% chance A will occur so a 1.000- 0.005= 0.995 or 99.5% none of A, or B, or C will happen.

There is a 0.5% chance A WILL happen and then a 1- 0.02= 0.98 or 98% chance B will NOT happen. There is a (0.005)(0.98)= 0.0049 or 0.49% chance A only will happen. There is a 0.5% chance A will happen and then a 2% chance B WILL happen. In that case there is a 1- 0.20= 0.80 or 80% chance C will NOT happen. So there is a (0.005)(0.02)(0.80)= 0.00008 or 0.008% chance of A and B but not C.
Finally there is a (0.005)(0.02)(0.20)= 0.00008 or 0.008% chance that all three will happen.
 

1. What is the formula for calculating the probability that 3 events occur one after the other?

The formula for calculating the probability of three events occurring one after the other is: P(A and B and C) = P(A) x P(B|A) x P(C|A and B), where P(A) represents the probability of event A occurring, P(B|A) represents the probability of event B occurring given that event A has already occurred, and P(C|A and B) represents the probability of event C occurring given that events A and B have already occurred.

2. How do you interpret the result of the calculation?

The result of the calculation represents the likelihood or chance of all three events occurring in the specified order. It is a decimal or percentage value between 0 and 1, with 0 indicating no chance and 1 indicating certainty.

3. Can the probability of three events occurring one after the other be greater than 1?

No, the probability of three events occurring one after the other cannot be greater than 1. This is because a probability of 1 represents certainty, and it is not possible for anything to have a higher chance of occurring than that.

4. How does the probability change if the events are independent?

If the events are independent, meaning that the occurrence of one event does not affect the probability of another event occurring, then the calculation simplifies to: P(A and B and C) = P(A) x P(B) x P(C). This means that the probability of all three events occurring in order is simply the product of the individual probabilities of each event.

5. What is the difference between the probability of three events occurring one after the other and the probability of them occurring simultaneously?

The probability of three events occurring one after the other is the likelihood of these events happening in a specific sequence. The probability of them occurring simultaneously is the likelihood of all three events happening at the same time, regardless of the order in which they occur. The former is a conditional probability, while the latter is a joint probability.

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