Hi..
Each link in a 10 link chain has a 1/10 probability of breaking under a given load. What is the probability that the chain will break when this given load is applied?
2006-10-23 09:34:06 · 3 answers · asked by jackal_04 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Mathematics
It isn't as easy as the previous answerer has mentioned. Lets assume that the load is X. When it is hung from the bottom of the chain, not all parts take the same load X, the ones higher up actually carry X + weight of all links below it. So the links higher up in the chain will have a higher probability of breaking.
If we ignore the weight of the individual links the analysis goes as follows:
Probability of a link breaking 1/10
Probability of a link NOT breaking = 9/10.
Probability that chain will break = 1- probability chain will not break.
Probability chain will not break = (9/10) ^ 10.
Therefore, the required probability = 1- (9/10)^10 ~ 65%
2006-10-23 11:11:40 · answer #1 · answered by Answerer Ongoing 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You would multiply each probability of each link together for the probability of the chain. So you'd have P = (1/10)^n
where P is the probability of breakage of any link in the chain
n is the number of links.
2006-10-23 16:39:06 · answer #2 · answered by ohmneo 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It's 1/10 proabability
2006-10-23 22:32:44 · answer #3 · answered by Summer 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋