Addition Rule of Probability: Example Problems

Recent questions in Addition Rule of Probability
High school probabilityAnswered question
Misael Matthews Misael Matthews 2022-06-22

Machine 1 is currently working. Machine 2 will be put in use at time t from now. If the lifetime of machine i is exponential with rate λ i , i = 1 , 2 , what is the probability that machine 1 is the first machine to fail?

The solution is as follows:
P ( M 1 < M 2 ) = P ( M 1 < M 2 | M 1 < t ) P ( M 1 < t ) + P ( M 1 < M 2 | M 1 > t ) P ( M 1 > t ) .
Now, I understand this solution. It states, in light of Bayes's Rule*, that we desire the probability that the lifetime of machine 1 is less than the lifetime of machine 2 and the lifetime of machine 1 is less than t in addition to the probability that the lifetime of machine 1 is less than the lifetime of machine 2 and the lifetime of machine 1 is greater than t. That all makes sense to me. My question, however, is why is it not simply
P ( M 1 < M 2 ) = P ( M 1 < t ) + P ( M 1 < M 2 | M 1 > t ) .
Linguistically, this seems to satisfy the solution to the problem; i.e., "the probability that the lifetime of machine 1 is less than t, in addition to the probability that the lifetime of machine 1 is less than that of machine 2 given that the lifetime of machine 1 is greater than t. I understand that the first term here is actually the same as the solution's, and that the solution formulates it as it does for illustrative purposes; but the second term certainly has a different value than that of the solution's.

I hope my question here makes sense. If any further clarification is needed, please let me know. Also, I understand that this exact problem appears elsewhere on stackexchange, but it was more about the computation.

*The Bayes's Rule to which I'm referring is, of course, the following formulation:
P ( A B ) = P ( A | B ) P ( B )

High school probabilityAnswered question
Davis Osborn Davis Osborn 2022-06-04

The question is from a standardized test. It is based around a type of probability. I have not taken a class that involves probability, as it is not taught in our standard curriculum. I am not positive on if my partial efforts are correct, but I and many others I know would appreciate some clarification. The problem goes (keep in mind this is from memory, I do not have answer choices memorized. So if you are unsure I cannot provide any choices to go from.)

"You have a jar of 10 cookies. In this jar are 5 chocolate chip cookies, 3 oatmeal cookies, and 2 raisin cookies. You reach in at random and take out a cookie. Without replacing the first cookie you pulled, you pull out a second. What is the probability that the first and second cookies will be the same type?"

As stated, this is from memory. I have spoken with friends to confirm and all agree this is the exact problem. We may be wrong, so if this is mathematically impossible to solve, be sure to let me (us) know.

From my very limited knowledge of probability, I cannot see a way to form one probability from three. You would take the probability of the first pick (for each type of cookie), 5/10, 3/10, and 2/10, and multiply them respectively by 4/9, 2/9, and 1/9. That would give you the probability of picking the same for each type.

How would you form one single probability from those three (if possible)?

As I said. I could be wrong, as if this is just not possible, then I obviously am not recalling it clearly enough. Thanks in advance.

The addition rule of probability states that the probability of two independent events occurring together is the sum of the probabilities of each event occurring. This is also known as the union of two events. To better understand the rule, try solving equations and questions using examples, such as rolling two dice. The probability of rolling a 6 on either die is 1/6 and the probability of rolling a 6 on both dice is 1/6 + 1/6 = 2/6 or 1/3. Practice using the addition rule of probability to calculate the probability of events occurring.