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Ian Fowler
Nov 01, 2021

Birthday Problem

in Video Ideas

Here's a challenge. Find the probability that, in a group of 4 people, at least 2 have the same birthday. The catch is - try doing it the DIRECT way with cases and do NOT use the indirect method that has been flogged endlessly and everyone has seen. BTW this is NOT a paradox. So when you see this listed as "The Birthday Paradox" you can politely correct them.

3 answers1 reply
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Ian Fowler
Nov 15, 2021

What? No takers?

1
srijanmukhopadhyay15
Nov 16, 2021  ·  Edited: Nov 16, 2021

Hello there. I think we can make cases like 1) all 4 have same birthday

2)3 same 1 different

3)2 same 2 different

And then just apply the basic probability formula.

Or simply do 1-(probability of no common birthdays)

I couldn't think of some other out of box method but if you have any, please do share it here with the answer

Thanks,


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Ian Fowler
Nov 16, 2021

That's exactly what I did. Except you have missed one case. 2same 2same. You can see why 1 - P(4 different) is much easier.

srijanmukhopadhyay15
Nov 16, 2021

@Ian Fowler Yup Thank You

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4 comments