2007-07-04 05:51:29 · 8 answers · asked by Aanchal B 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Mathematics
Of course no.
Probability should always be between 0 & 1, inclusive.
Edit:
crazimyke has a cute intuitive idea.
But this is not mathematically acceptable. Not everything falls under the law of dichotomy anyway.
d:
2007-07-04 05:54:36 · answer #1 · answered by Alam Ko Iyan 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Negative probability is conceivable. It would basically mean that the event in question is not only impossible, but there is a certain degree of probability that the complete opposite would happen.
So, if there is a -25% probability of a pig to turn left, all that there would really be is a 25% chance of the pig to turn right.
I'm sure there is no legitamate mathematical convention for this... logically, though, it makes sense.
After all, 'not happening' is not the opposite of 'happening'. This may seem counter-intuitive, but if you think of it quantitatively, 0 is not the opposite of 5; rather, -5 is the opposite of 5. This means that the real opposite of 'happening' would be 'counter-happening', which you could define as an event which is counter-progressive to the 'happening' -- something which necessitates additional 'happening' for the original value of 'happening' to be reached. If the 'happening' is a pig turning left, then going straight would not be the opposite of 'happening'; this would only be 'not happening'. Its opposite, or 'counter-happening', would be for the pig to turn right.
That's my philosophical explanation. Hope it helps XD
2007-07-04 13:08:23 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
In quantum mechanics, there is something called "Bell's Theorem" which can lead to "negative probabilities" in order to explain some semi-paradoxical experiments. This is physics, not math.
2007-07-04 13:48:35 · answer #3 · answered by jw 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No
P(event)= 0 =>not possible
P(event)= 1 =>certainty
probability is between 0 & 1
2007-07-04 12:56:03 · answer #4 · answered by harry m 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the only thing like that is the probability against something, but thats a positive #, like a 50/50 chance -- theirs 50% or .05 chance it will happen and the same chance it won't.
2007-07-04 13:04:34 · answer #5 · answered by NONAME 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The least a probability could be is 0 because if something is not gonna happen, then it's a zero. you can't go any less than "not gonna happen"
2007-07-04 12:59:33 · answer #6 · answered by MLBfreek35 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No.
2007-07-04 12:54:45 · answer #7 · answered by oregfiu 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
NO
2007-07-04 18:36:08 · answer #8 · answered by UNIQUE 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋