Calculating probablity of wins & or losses given win pro

[holdyourhorsiieees]

I was given a problem on an exam that kind of threw me.

It was something like, "A lawyer has a win probability of .85. Assume a situation of two separate, independent cases.
a) calculate the probability that he wins both cases.
b) calculate the probability that he loses both cases.
c) calcuate the probability that he loses one case and wins another."

Obviously his loss probability is .15
I enumerated the sample space: {W,L}, {W, W}, {L, W}, {L, L}

But I wasn't sure where to go from there. I know that when two events are independent, the occurence, or non-occurence, of one event doesn't affect the proability assighned to the occurrence of the second event.

I'd appreciate an explanation about how to go about a problem like this.

 

[skeeter]

Re: Calculating probablity of wins & or losses given win

I was given a problem on an exam that kind of threw me.

It was something like, "A lawyer has a win probability of .85. Assume a situation of two separate, independent cases.
a) calculate the probability that he wins both cases. (.85)²
b) calculate the probability that he loses both cases. (.15)²
c) calcuate the probability that he loses one case and wins another." 2(.85)(.15)

Obviously his loss probability is .15
I enumerated the sample space: {W,L}, {W, W}, {L, W}, {L, L}

But I wasn't sure where to go from there. I know that when two events are independent, the occurence, or non-occurence, of one event doesn't affect the proability assighned to the occurrence of the second event.

I'd appreciate an explanation about how to go about a problem like this.