How to evaluate the total probability using conditional probabilities?











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Suppose we have 2 events $C_1$ and $C_2$ so that $C_1$, $C_2$, $C_1'$ and $C_2'$ partition the probability space. Let the event I'm interested in be denoted by $X$. $C_1$ and $C_2$ and their complements are conditionally independent given $X$. The probability of $X$ is given by,
begin{equation*}
P(X)=P(X|C_1,C_2)P(C_1,C_2)+P(X|C_1',C_2)P(C_1',C_2)+P(X|C_1,C_2')P(C_1',C_2)+P(X|C_1',C_2')P(C_1',C_2')
end{equation*}

Using conditional independence, we evaluate this as follows,
begin{equation*}
P(X) =P(C_1|X)P(C_2|X)P(X)+P(C_1'|X)P(C_2|X)P(X)+P(C_1|X)P(C_2'|X)P(X)+P(C_1'|X)P(C_2'|X)P(X)
end{equation*}

But then I have $P(X)$ on both side of the equality in the second equation. Is there a difference between these two (are the ones on the RHS the prior probability and the $P(X)$ on the LHS the posterior)? Any clarification would be appreciated.



In my case $P(X)$ is unknown, and I'm trying to solve for it. Would I go about this by guessing values of $P(X)$ for those on the RHS and evaluate this for the value of $P(X)$ on the LHS?










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  • What if you divide both sides by $P(X)?$
    – saulspatz
    Nov 20 at 15:07










  • Then I get $1$ on the LHS.
    – user617643
    Nov 20 at 15:08










  • Yes, but look at the right-hand side.
    – saulspatz
    Nov 20 at 15:15










  • That is the sum of the probabilities of the possible outcomes.
    – user617643
    Nov 20 at 15:16












  • Doesn't that answer you question?
    – saulspatz
    Nov 20 at 15:17















up vote
0
down vote

favorite












Suppose we have 2 events $C_1$ and $C_2$ so that $C_1$, $C_2$, $C_1'$ and $C_2'$ partition the probability space. Let the event I'm interested in be denoted by $X$. $C_1$ and $C_2$ and their complements are conditionally independent given $X$. The probability of $X$ is given by,
begin{equation*}
P(X)=P(X|C_1,C_2)P(C_1,C_2)+P(X|C_1',C_2)P(C_1',C_2)+P(X|C_1,C_2')P(C_1',C_2)+P(X|C_1',C_2')P(C_1',C_2')
end{equation*}

Using conditional independence, we evaluate this as follows,
begin{equation*}
P(X) =P(C_1|X)P(C_2|X)P(X)+P(C_1'|X)P(C_2|X)P(X)+P(C_1|X)P(C_2'|X)P(X)+P(C_1'|X)P(C_2'|X)P(X)
end{equation*}

But then I have $P(X)$ on both side of the equality in the second equation. Is there a difference between these two (are the ones on the RHS the prior probability and the $P(X)$ on the LHS the posterior)? Any clarification would be appreciated.



In my case $P(X)$ is unknown, and I'm trying to solve for it. Would I go about this by guessing values of $P(X)$ for those on the RHS and evaluate this for the value of $P(X)$ on the LHS?










share|cite|improve this question
























  • What if you divide both sides by $P(X)?$
    – saulspatz
    Nov 20 at 15:07










  • Then I get $1$ on the LHS.
    – user617643
    Nov 20 at 15:08










  • Yes, but look at the right-hand side.
    – saulspatz
    Nov 20 at 15:15










  • That is the sum of the probabilities of the possible outcomes.
    – user617643
    Nov 20 at 15:16












  • Doesn't that answer you question?
    – saulspatz
    Nov 20 at 15:17













up vote
0
down vote

favorite









up vote
0
down vote

favorite











Suppose we have 2 events $C_1$ and $C_2$ so that $C_1$, $C_2$, $C_1'$ and $C_2'$ partition the probability space. Let the event I'm interested in be denoted by $X$. $C_1$ and $C_2$ and their complements are conditionally independent given $X$. The probability of $X$ is given by,
begin{equation*}
P(X)=P(X|C_1,C_2)P(C_1,C_2)+P(X|C_1',C_2)P(C_1',C_2)+P(X|C_1,C_2')P(C_1',C_2)+P(X|C_1',C_2')P(C_1',C_2')
end{equation*}

Using conditional independence, we evaluate this as follows,
begin{equation*}
P(X) =P(C_1|X)P(C_2|X)P(X)+P(C_1'|X)P(C_2|X)P(X)+P(C_1|X)P(C_2'|X)P(X)+P(C_1'|X)P(C_2'|X)P(X)
end{equation*}

But then I have $P(X)$ on both side of the equality in the second equation. Is there a difference between these two (are the ones on the RHS the prior probability and the $P(X)$ on the LHS the posterior)? Any clarification would be appreciated.



In my case $P(X)$ is unknown, and I'm trying to solve for it. Would I go about this by guessing values of $P(X)$ for those on the RHS and evaluate this for the value of $P(X)$ on the LHS?










share|cite|improve this question















Suppose we have 2 events $C_1$ and $C_2$ so that $C_1$, $C_2$, $C_1'$ and $C_2'$ partition the probability space. Let the event I'm interested in be denoted by $X$. $C_1$ and $C_2$ and their complements are conditionally independent given $X$. The probability of $X$ is given by,
begin{equation*}
P(X)=P(X|C_1,C_2)P(C_1,C_2)+P(X|C_1',C_2)P(C_1',C_2)+P(X|C_1,C_2')P(C_1',C_2)+P(X|C_1',C_2')P(C_1',C_2')
end{equation*}

Using conditional independence, we evaluate this as follows,
begin{equation*}
P(X) =P(C_1|X)P(C_2|X)P(X)+P(C_1'|X)P(C_2|X)P(X)+P(C_1|X)P(C_2'|X)P(X)+P(C_1'|X)P(C_2'|X)P(X)
end{equation*}

But then I have $P(X)$ on both side of the equality in the second equation. Is there a difference between these two (are the ones on the RHS the prior probability and the $P(X)$ on the LHS the posterior)? Any clarification would be appreciated.



In my case $P(X)$ is unknown, and I'm trying to solve for it. Would I go about this by guessing values of $P(X)$ for those on the RHS and evaluate this for the value of $P(X)$ on the LHS?







probability probability-theory bayesian






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edited Nov 20 at 15:15

























asked Nov 20 at 15:01









user617643

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226












  • What if you divide both sides by $P(X)?$
    – saulspatz
    Nov 20 at 15:07










  • Then I get $1$ on the LHS.
    – user617643
    Nov 20 at 15:08










  • Yes, but look at the right-hand side.
    – saulspatz
    Nov 20 at 15:15










  • That is the sum of the probabilities of the possible outcomes.
    – user617643
    Nov 20 at 15:16












  • Doesn't that answer you question?
    – saulspatz
    Nov 20 at 15:17


















  • What if you divide both sides by $P(X)?$
    – saulspatz
    Nov 20 at 15:07










  • Then I get $1$ on the LHS.
    – user617643
    Nov 20 at 15:08










  • Yes, but look at the right-hand side.
    – saulspatz
    Nov 20 at 15:15










  • That is the sum of the probabilities of the possible outcomes.
    – user617643
    Nov 20 at 15:16












  • Doesn't that answer you question?
    – saulspatz
    Nov 20 at 15:17
















What if you divide both sides by $P(X)?$
– saulspatz
Nov 20 at 15:07




What if you divide both sides by $P(X)?$
– saulspatz
Nov 20 at 15:07












Then I get $1$ on the LHS.
– user617643
Nov 20 at 15:08




Then I get $1$ on the LHS.
– user617643
Nov 20 at 15:08












Yes, but look at the right-hand side.
– saulspatz
Nov 20 at 15:15




Yes, but look at the right-hand side.
– saulspatz
Nov 20 at 15:15












That is the sum of the probabilities of the possible outcomes.
– user617643
Nov 20 at 15:16






That is the sum of the probabilities of the possible outcomes.
– user617643
Nov 20 at 15:16














Doesn't that answer you question?
– saulspatz
Nov 20 at 15:17




Doesn't that answer you question?
– saulspatz
Nov 20 at 15:17















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