JEE Challenger
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Probability of Independent Events Occurring Exactly Once or None

Let EE and FF be two independent events. The probability that exactly one of them occurs is 1125\frac{11}{25} and the probability of none of them occurring is 225\frac{2}{25}. If P(T)P(T) denotes the probability of occurrence of the event TT, then

Options

A

P(E)=45P(E) = \frac{4}{5}, P(F)=35P(F) = \frac{3}{5}

Correct
B

P(E)=15P(E) = \frac{1}{5}, P(F)=25P(F) = \frac{2}{5}

C

P(E)=25P(E) = \frac{2}{5}, P(F)=15P(F) = \frac{1}{5}

D

P(E)=35P(E) = \frac{3}{5}, P(F)=45P(F) = \frac{4}{5}

Correct

Step-by-Step Solution

Let P(E)=xP(E) = x and P(F)=yP(F) = y.

Since EE and FF are given to be independent events, the events EE and F′F', E′E' and FF, as well as E′E' and F′F' are also independent.

  1. Probability that exactly one event occurs:
    P(exactly one)=P(E∩F′)+P(E′∩F)P(\text{exactly one}) = P(E \cap F') + P(E' \cap F)
    Since EE and FF are independent:
    P(exactly one)=P(E)P(F′)+P(E′)P(F)P(\text{exactly one}) = P(E)P(F') + P(E')P(F)
    x(1−y)+y(1−x)=1125x(1-y) + y(1-x) = \frac{11}{25}
    x+y−2xy=1125— (Equation 1)x + y - 2xy = \frac{11}{25} \quad \text{--- (Equation 1)}

  2. Probability that none of the events occur:
    P(none)=P(E′∩F′)=P(E′)P(F′)P(\text{none}) = P(E' \cap F') = P(E')P(F')
    (1−x)(1−y)=225(1-x)(1-y) = \frac{2}{25}
    1−(x+y)+xy=2251 - (x + y) + xy = \frac{2}{25}
    x+y−xy=1−225=2325— (Equation 2)x + y - xy = 1 - \frac{2}{25} = \frac{23}{25} \quad \text{--- (Equation 2)}

  3. Solving for x+yx + y and xyxy:
    Subtracting Equation (1) from Equation (2):
    (x+y−xy)−(x+y−2xy)=2325−1125(x + y - xy) - (x + y - 2xy) = \frac{23}{25} - \frac{11}{25}
    xy=1225xy = \frac{12}{25}

    Substitute xy=1225xy = \frac{12}{25} into Equation (2):
    x+y−1225=2325x + y - \frac{12}{25} = \frac{23}{25}
    x+y=3525=75x + y = \frac{35}{25} = \frac{7}{5}

  4. Finding xx and yy:
    xx and yy are the roots of the quadratic equation:
    t2−(x+y)t+xy=0t^2 - (x+y)t + xy = 0
    t2−75t+1225=0t^2 - \frac{7}{5}t + \frac{12}{25} = 0
    Multiply the entire equation by 2525:
    25t2−35t+12=025t^2 - 35t + 12 = 0
    (5t−4)(5t−3)=0(5t - 4)(5t - 3) = 0
    t=45ort=35t = \frac{4}{5} \quad \text{or} \quad t = \frac{3}{5}

Thus, the possible values for P(E)P(E) and P(F)P(F) are:

  • Case 1: P(E)=45P(E) = \frac{4}{5} and P(F)=35P(F) = \frac{3}{5}
  • Case 2: P(E)=35P(E) = \frac{3}{5} and P(F)=45P(F) = \frac{4}{5}

Therefore, the correct options are (A) and (D).