Revision as of 17:03, 16 September 2008 by Ekavurma (Talk)

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It is generally a good idea to start off by simplifying the first equation:

1. P(A) = P(A|C)*P(C) + P(A|C!)*P(C!) 

Which can be simplified into

 2. P(A) = P(A∩C) + P(A∩C!) [2]

After this useful simplification, we can start manipulating the second equation using the formula:

 3. P(A|B) = P(A∩B)/P(B)

Inserting "2." in place of P(A) in "3." gives us

 4. P(A|B) = P(A∩B∩C)/P(B) + P(A∩B∩C!)/P(B)

Conditioning on (B ∩ C) or (B ∩ C!) gives

 5. P(A|B) = P(A|C∩B)*P(C∩B)/P(B) + P(A|C!∩B)*P(C!∩B)/P(B)

Expressing P(C∩B)/P(B) as P(C|B) and P(C!∩B)/P(B) as P(C!|B) yields

 6. P(A|B) = P(A|C∩B)P(C|B) + P(A|C!∩B)P(C!|B)

The intersection components are interchangeable.

Hence the equality is proven.

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