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Introduction to Probability Theory

Probability Theory is a branch of mathematics that deals with uncertainty. It provides a systematic way to quantify the likelihood of events occurring and is widely used in statistics, data science, machine learning, economics, engineering, and everyday decision-making.

Why Probability Theory is Important

Helps in decision-making under uncertainty

Forms the foundation of statistics and data science

Used in risk analysis, forecasting, and prediction models

Essential for AI & Machine Learning algorithms

Basic Concepts of Probability Theory :

  1. Experiment

An experiment is any process that produces an outcome.

Example: Tossing a coin, rolling a dice

  1. Sample Space (S)

The set of all possible outcomes of an experiment.

Coin toss → S = {H, T}

Dice roll → S = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6}

  1. Event (E)

A subset of the sample space.

Example: Getting an even number → E = {2, 4, 6}

Definition of Probability :

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Probability value always lies between 0 and 1

0 → Impossible event

1 → Certain event

Types of Events

Simple Event – Single outcome

Compound Event – Combination of outcomes

Impossible Event – Cannot occur

Certain Event – Must occur

Mutually Exclusive Events – Cannot occur together

Independent Events – Occurrence of one does not affect the other

Basic Rules of Probability :

Approaches to Probability

Classical Probability – Based on equally likely outcomes

Empirical Probability – Based on experiments and observations

Subjective Probability – Based on personal belief or judgment

Applications of Probability Theory

Weather forecasting 🌦️

Medical diagnosis 🏥

Stock market analysis 📈

Machine Learning & AI 🤖

Quality control in industries 🏭

Conclusion

Probability Theory provides a mathematical framework to analyze randomness and uncertainty. It is the backbone of statistics and data science, enabling us to make informed decisions based on data rather than guesswork.

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