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From: ecn-ec:ecn-pc:ecn-ed:vu@pur-ee.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.math
Subject: A statistics paradox
Message-ID: <205@ecn-ed.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 16-Sep-83 14:32:17 EDT
Article-I.D.: ecn-ed.205
Posted: Fri Sep 16 14:32:17 1983
Date-Received: Sat, 17-Sep-83 17:45:59 EDT
Lines: 10


	Let p = .5 be the probability that a phenomenum will happen to
an item. Thus the probability that it won't happen is 1-p = .5
	So with a population of 2, the probability that the phenomenum
happens to at least one of the items will be p+p = 1 , while the probability
that the phenomenum will not happen to either is (1-p)(1-p) = .25
hence making a total of 1.25 ?!?!
	Where did I go wrong ?

	Hao-Nhien Vu (pur-ee!norris)