Math Is Fun Forum

loong1234

Member

Registered: 2012-05-31

Posts: 2

Coincidence

Example:
you are in a room with 30 people, and find that Zach and Anna celebrate their birthday on the same day.

Would you say "wow, how strange", or "that seems reasonable, with so many people here".

In fact there is a 70% chance that would happen... so it is likely.
   

Why is the chance so high?

Because you are comparing everyone to everyone else (not just one to many).

And with 30 people that is 435 comparisons.

my question is: how to get the 70 % and 435 comparisons? thx

bobbym

bumpkin

From: Bumpkinland

Registered: 2009-04-12

Posts: 109,606

Re: Coincidence

Hi loong1234;

Welcome to the forum.

435 comparisons?

The number of pairs is;

For the 70% we use the well Birthday problem formulas. The probability that there will be no matching birthday among 30 people is:

So the chance that there is a matching birthday is

which is about 70%.

---

In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

loong1234

Member

Registered: 2012-05-31

Posts: 2

Re: Coincidence

bobbym,Administrator,

Thank you!

bobbym

bumpkin

From: Bumpkinland

Registered: 2009-04-12

Posts: 109,606

Re: Coincidence

Hi loong1234;

You are welcome.

---

In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

anonimnystefy

Real Member

From: Harlan's World

Registered: 2011-05-23

Posts: 16,049

Re: Coincidence

*You're

The Grammar Nazi

---

“Here lies the reader who will never open this book. He is forever dead.
“Taking a new step, uttering a new word, is what people fear most.” ― Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Crime and Punishment
The knowledge of some things as a function of age is a delta function.

Bob

Administrator

Registered: 2010-06-20

Posts: 10,583

Re: Coincidence

You do not have to abbreviate everything possible in the English language.  It is not compulsory!

The Grammar Nazi Police.

---

Children are not defined by school ...........The Fonz
You cannot teach a man anything;  you can only help him find it within himself..........Galileo Galilei
Sometimes I deliberately make mistakes, just to test you!  …………….Bob

anonimnystefy

Real Member

From: Harlan's World

Registered: 2011-05-23

Posts: 16,049

Re: Coincidence

You didn't see his original post. It had a "Your".

---

“Here lies the reader who will never open this book. He is forever dead.
“Taking a new step, uttering a new word, is what people fear most.” ― Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Crime and Punishment
The knowledge of some things as a function of age is a delta function.

Bob

Administrator

Registered: 2010-06-20

Posts: 10,583

Re: Coincidence

I know.  bobbym has always used 'your'.  I just thought it was a cute habit of his so I let it go.

On the other hand, if you want me to start correcting your English .............

Bob

---

Children are not defined by school ...........The Fonz
You cannot teach a man anything;  you can only help him find it within himself..........Galileo Galilei
Sometimes I deliberately make mistakes, just to test you!  …………….Bob

bobbym

bumpkin

From: Bumpkinland

Registered: 2009-04-12

Posts: 109,606

Re: Coincidence

Hi anonimnystefy;

Yes, it did. But if you had been watching then you would know that I always recheck posts 3 - 4 times to correct errors like that.

Back in WWII when I was going up against Messerscmitts' brainchilds...

---

In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

anonimnystefy

Real Member

From: Harlan's World

Registered: 2011-05-23

Posts: 16,049

Re: Coincidence

I don't see him use "your" that often,but okay.

I would love if you corrected my English. It needs correcting.

---

“Here lies the reader who will never open this book. He is forever dead.
“Taking a new step, uttering a new word, is what people fear most.” ― Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Crime and Punishment
The knowledge of some things as a function of age is a delta function.

bobbym

bumpkin

From: Bumpkinland

Registered: 2009-04-12

Posts: 109,606

Re: Coincidence

Yes, you are making long for those good old days.

---

In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

anonimnystefy

Real Member

From: Harlan's World

Registered: 2011-05-23

Posts: 16,049

Re: Coincidence

What?

---

“Here lies the reader who will never open this book. He is forever dead.
“Taking a new step, uttering a new word, is what people fear most.” ― Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Crime and Punishment
The knowledge of some things as a function of age is a delta function.

bobbym

bumpkin

From: Bumpkinland

Registered: 2009-04-12

Posts: 109,606

Re: Coincidence

Inside those ME-109F's and G's were plenty of grammar Nazis.

---

In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

anonimnystefy

Real Member

From: Harlan's World

Registered: 2011-05-23

Posts: 16,049

Re: Coincidence

Ok,and?

---

“Here lies the reader who will never open this book. He is forever dead.
“Taking a new step, uttering a new word, is what people fear most.” ― Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Crime and Punishment
The knowledge of some things as a function of age is a delta function.

Bob

Administrator

Registered: 2010-06-20

Posts: 10,583

Re: Coincidence

I would love if you corrected my English. It needs correcting.

I would live it if you were to correct my English.

Bob

---

Children are not defined by school ...........The Fonz
You cannot teach a man anything;  you can only help him find it within himself..........Galileo Galilei
Sometimes I deliberately make mistakes, just to test you!  …………….Bob

bobbym

bumpkin

From: Bumpkinland

Registered: 2009-04-12

Posts: 109,606

Re: Coincidence

Ok,and?

Perhaps it is best you do not understand that comment.

---

In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

Bob

Administrator

Registered: 2010-06-20

Posts: 10,583

Re: Coincidence

What?

I beg your pardon?

Bob

---

Children are not defined by school ...........The Fonz
You cannot teach a man anything;  you can only help him find it within himself..........Galileo Galilei
Sometimes I deliberately make mistakes, just to test you!  …………….Bob

bobbym

bumpkin

From: Bumpkinland

Registered: 2009-04-12

Posts: 109,606

Re: Coincidence

Hi Bob;

No, that was not for you. Sorry.

---

In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

anonimnystefy

Real Member

From: Harlan's World

Registered: 2011-05-23

Posts: 16,049

Re: Coincidence

I would love if you corrected my English. It needs correcting.

I would live it if you were to correct my English.

Bob

I understand why the first part isn't correct,but I don't understand why the second part of the conditional isn't correct.

---

“Here lies the reader who will never open this book. He is forever dead.
“Taking a new step, uttering a new word, is what people fear most.” ― Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Crime and Punishment
The knowledge of some things as a function of age is a delta function.

Bob

Administrator

Registered: 2010-06-20

Posts: 10,583

Re: Coincidence

Ok,and?

OK, <space> and what am I to make of that comment?

Bob 

ps.  I don't think I can keep pace.

---

Children are not defined by school ...........The Fonz
You cannot teach a man anything;  you can only help him find it within himself..........Galileo Galilei
Sometimes I deliberately make mistakes, just to test you!  …………….Bob

anonimnystefy

Real Member

From: Harlan's World

Registered: 2011-05-23

Posts: 16,049

Re: Coincidence

What?

I beg your pardon?

Bob

That is not a grammatical mistake.

---

“Here lies the reader who will never open this book. He is forever dead.
“Taking a new step, uttering a new word, is what people fear most.” ― Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Crime and Punishment
The knowledge of some things as a function of age is a delta function.

bobbym

bumpkin

From: Bumpkinland

Registered: 2009-04-12

Posts: 109,606

Re: Coincidence

Hi Bob;

I think that was for me. He is not getting my point at all.

---

In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

anonimnystefy

Real Member

From: Harlan's World

Registered: 2011-05-23

Posts: 16,049

Re: Coincidence

Ok,and?

OK, <space> and what am I to make of that comment?

Bob 

ps.  I don't think I can keep pace.

That is not a grammatical mistake.

---

“Here lies the reader who will never open this book. He is forever dead.
“Taking a new step, uttering a new word, is what people fear most.” ― Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Crime and Punishment
The knowledge of some things as a function of age is a delta function.

Bob

Administrator

Registered: 2010-06-20

Posts: 10,583

Re: Coincidence

'Corrected' is past tense and you are making a request for the future.  So 'were to correct' is better but your version is in common use.

A space after a comma is required.

'and?' is not a sentence.

And you wanted your English corrected.  That is not the same as asking for your grammar to be corrected.

Bob

---

Children are not defined by school ...........The Fonz
You cannot teach a man anything;  you can only help him find it within himself..........Galileo Galilei
Sometimes I deliberately make mistakes, just to test you!  …………….Bob

anonimnystefy

Real Member

From: Harlan's World

Registered: 2011-05-23

Posts: 16,049

Re: Coincidence

Actually, the second part of the conditional has the 'would+infinitive', so its first part must be in Simple Past Tense.

---

“Here lies the reader who will never open this book. He is forever dead.
“Taking a new step, uttering a new word, is what people fear most.” ― Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Crime and Punishment
The knowledge of some things as a function of age is a delta function.