A tennis match is played between two players, AA and BB. The match consists of at most three sets. Each set is won by either AA or BB, and the match is won by the first player to win two sets. The probability that AA wins the first set is pp. For each set after the first, the conditional probability that AA wins the set, given that AA won the preceding set, is 0.7. For each set after the first, the conditional probability that BB wins the set, given that BB won the preceding set, is 0.6. Construct a probability tree showing this information.

  1. (i)

    When a match is decided by playing all three sets, the probability of AA winning is the same as that of BB winning. Show that the value of pp is 811\frac{8}{11}.

  2. (ii)

    Find the probability that BB wins the first set, given that AA wins the match.

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Worked solution

7(i)

1. Calculate the probability that player A wins the match in exactly three sets.

A match won by player AA in exactly 3 sets must follow one of two paths of set winners: A−B−AA-B-A or B−A−AB-A-A.
Using the conditional probabilities given in the tree structure:
P(A wins in 3)=P(A1)P(B2∣A1)P(A3∣B2)+P(B1)P(A2∣B1)P(A3∣A2)\text{P}(A \text{ wins in 3}) = \text{P}(A_1)\text{P}(B_2 \mid A_1)\text{P}(A_3 \mid B_2) + \text{P}(B_1)\text{P}(A_2 \mid B_1)\text{P}(A_3 \mid A_2)
=p(0.3)(0.4)+(1−p)(0.4)(0.7)= p(0.3)(0.4) + (1 - p)(0.4)(0.7)
=0.12p+0.28(1−p)= 0.12p + 0.28(1 - p)
=0.28−0.16p= 0.28 - 0.16p

2. Calculate the probability that player B wins the match in exactly three sets.

A match won by player BB in exactly 3 sets must follow the paths A−B−BA-B-B or B−A−BB-A-B.
P(B wins in 3)=P(A1)P(B2∣A1)P(B3∣B2)+P(B1)P(A2∣B1)P(B3∣A2)\text{P}(B \text{ wins in 3}) = \text{P}(A_1)\text{P}(B_2 \mid A_1)\text{P}(B_3 \mid B_2) + \text{P}(B_1)\text{P}(A_2 \mid B_1)\text{P}(B_3 \mid A_2)
=p(0.3)(0.6)+(1−p)(0.4)(0.3)= p(0.3)(0.6) + (1 - p)(0.4)(0.3)
=0.18p+0.12(1−p)= 0.18p + 0.12(1 - p)
=0.12+0.06p= 0.12 + 0.06p

3. Equate the probabilities and solve for $p$.

Since the probabilities of winning in 3 sets are equal for both players:
P(A wins in 3)=P(B wins in 3)\text{P}(A \text{ wins in 3}) = \text{P}(B \text{ wins in 3})
0.28−0.16p=0.12+0.06p0.28 - 0.16p = 0.12 + 0.06p
0.28−0.12=0.06p+0.16p0.28 - 0.12 = 0.06p + 0.16p
0.16=0.22p0.16 = 0.22p
p=0.160.22=1622=811 (shown)p = \frac{0.16}{0.22} = \frac{16}{22} = \frac{8}{11} \text{ (shown)}

Answer

p=811p = \frac{8}{11}

7(ii)

1. Calculate the probability of the sequence where $B$ wins the first set and $A$ wins the match.

For AA to win the match after BB wins the first set, the sequence of wins must be BB then AA then AA.
P(B,A,A)=P(B1)×P(A2∣B1)×P(A3∣A2)P(B, A, A) = P(B_1) \times P(A_2 \mid B_1) \times P(A_3 \mid A_2)
P(B,A,A)=(1−811)×(1−0.6)×0.7P(B, A, A) = \left(1 - \frac{8}{11}\right) \times (1 - 0.6) \times 0.7
P(B,A,A)=311×0.4×0.7=0.8411=21275P(B, A, A) = \frac{3}{11} \times 0.4 \times 0.7 = \frac{0.84}{11} = \frac{21}{275}

2. Calculate the overall probability that $A$ wins the match.

AA can win the match through three mutually exclusive sequences of set wins: A−AA-A, A−B−AA-B-A, or B−A−AB-A-A.
P(A,A)=811×0.7=5.611=140275P(A, A) = \frac{8}{11} \times 0.7 = \frac{5.6}{11} = \frac{140}{275}
P(A,B,A)=811×(1−0.7)×(1−0.6)=811×0.3×0.4=0.9611=24275P(A, B, A) = \frac{8}{11} \times (1 - 0.7) \times (1 - 0.6) = \frac{8}{11} \times 0.3 \times 0.4 = \frac{0.96}{11} = \frac{24}{275}
Total probability AA wins the match is the sum of these outcomes:
P(A wins)=P(A,A)+P(A,B,A)+P(B,A,A)P(\text{A wins}) = P(A, A) + P(A, B, A) + P(B, A, A)
P(A wins)=140275+24275+21275=185275P(\text{A wins}) = \frac{140}{275} + \frac{24}{275} + \frac{21}{275} = \frac{185}{275}

3. Use the conditional probability formula to find the required probability.

We want to find P(B wins 1st∣A wins match)P(B \text{ wins 1st} \mid A \text{ wins match}).
P(B wins 1st∣A wins match)=P(B wins 1st∩A wins match)P(A wins match)P(B \text{ wins 1st} \mid A \text{ wins match}) = \frac{P(B \text{ wins 1st} \cap A \text{ wins match})}{P(A \text{ wins match})}
P(B wins 1st∣A wins match)=21/275185/275=21185P(B \text{ wins 1st} \mid A \text{ wins match}) = \frac{21/275}{185/275} = \frac{21}{185}

Answer

21185\frac{21}{185}

AI analysis — may contain mistakes.

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