Tree Diagram responses wk 1 dq 1 - Coursework Example

Tree diagram response Response to Becky’s answer Becky is right in her opinion that a tree diagram is a good representation of possible outcomes of aprobability event. Her argument is valid because the tree diagram is an easier and more direct way for identifying probability especially if many independent trials are involved. Her opinion that a tree diagram expresses any type of probability is however too diverse and inaccurate. This is because the tree diagram is only applicable in cases where events are mutually exclusive and are at the same time exhaustive, and trials are independent.

A good example of application of a tree diagram is in representing possible outcomes of a successively tossed die. In this case, outcomes at each trial are mutually exclusive and their union is the universal set (Sharma, 2007).Response to Brenda’s answerWhile Brenda is right in identifying the tree diagram as an aid to visualizing outcomes, her definition is not comprehensive. Direct calculation of probabilities is more efficient in simple outcomes such as single trials. The tree diagram is more applicable in visualizing outcomes of multiple trials.

She also does not explicitly identify the fact that tree a diagram is suitable for independent trials. An example, similar to Brenda’s would involve independent and successive selection of a ball from a set of four white balls followed by another selection from a set of three blue ones. While she exhibits the first principles of probability such as determination of the probability space and additive and multiplicative rules, Brenda lacks sufficient mathematical terms for communicating her rich knowledge (Sharma, 2007).

Response to Tami’s answerTami is explorative of the scope of a tree diagram and its role in identification of a sample space. Her example of possible application of a tree diagram is also adequate. This is because it identified selection of two items from two mutually exclusive sets. A good example that corresponds to Tami’s is a successive selection of a book from a set of five books, each with a different color, followed by selection of a pen from a set of three differently colored pens.

Her answer also demonstrates an understanding in determination of sample space from trials. Though her response is commendable, she fails to expressly identify the independence property of trials that is a necessity for application of a tree diagram (Sharma, 2007). Response to Yvette’s answerYvette’s answer that a tree diagram is a way of listing possibilities of a sequence is not very accurate. This is because of two reasons. First, a sequence may have a single outcome at each trial and may not fit in the scope of a tree diagram because the sample space would be directly identifiable.

Similarly, she does not identify the condition of mutual exclusivity in application of the tree diagram. She also does not demonstrate knowledge of determination of the sample space in a tree diagram. Her example does not also accurately relate to application of a tree diagram as she does not relate her two sets. Her example could be modified to express a selection between white or chocolate drink followed by a selection between oatmeal and peanut butter cookies (Sharma, 2007).ReferenceSharma, J. (2007). Business Statistics.

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