MHB Probability that someone has the disease

AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around calculating the probabilities related to a disease with a prevalence of 0.01 and the accuracy of two independent tests, each with a 95% correct answer rate. The main focus is on determining the probability of having the disease given at least one positive test result and both tests being positive. The calculations involve using Bayes' theorem and the law of total probability to derive these probabilities, leading to confusion over the correct values. Ultimately, the participants clarify the correct approach to find the probabilities, emphasizing the importance of accurately interpreting the results of the tests.
mathmari
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Hey! :o

The percentage of people that have a disease A is $0,01$.
We apply twice a test for that disease, each of which give the correct answer with probability $0,95$.
What is the probability that someone has that disease if at least one test is positive and what is the probability if both tests are positive? I have done the following:

We have that $$P(\text{at least one positive})=1-P(\text{no positive})=1-P(NN)$$ where N: "negative". Let D be the event "has the disease".

Then we have that $$P(NN)=P(NN\cap D)+P(NN\cap D^C)=P(NN\mid D)\cdot P(D)+P(NN\mid D^C)\cdot P(D^C)$$ We have that $P(D)=0,01$ and $P(D^C)=0,99$.

Does it hold that $P(NN\mid D)=P(N\mid D)^2$ and $P(NN\mid D^C)=P(N\mid D^C)^2$ ?

If yes, does it hold that $P(N\mid D)=0,05$ and $P(N\mid D^C)=0,95$ ?

That would mean that we get $$P(NN)=0,05^2\cdot 001+0,95^2\cdot 0,99$$ Is this correct? (Wondering)
 
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mathmari said:
Does it hold that $P(NN\mid D)=P(N\mid D)^2$ and $P(NN\mid D^C)=P(N\mid D^C)^2$ ?
If the two tests are independent, yes.

If yes, does it hold that $P(N\mid D)=0,05$ and $P(N\mid D^C)=0,95$ ?
Yes.

That would mean that we get $$P(NN)=0,05^2\cdot 001+0,95^2\cdot 0,99$$ Is this correct? (Wondering)

Except for the typo where you meant "0.01" and not "0.001", yes.

You know you have not yet answered either question, right?
 
tkhunny said:
Except for the typo where you meant "0.01" and not "0.001", yes.

Ah ok!

So, we have that $$P(NN)=0.05^2\cdot 0.01+0.95^2\cdot 0.99=0.8935$$
tkhunny said:
You know you have not yet answered either question, right?

For the first question we have the following:
$$P(\text{at least one positive})=1-P(\text{no positive})=1-P(NN)=1-0.8935=0.1065$$
Is this correct?

At the suggested solution the result is $0, 093661972$. Can that be? (Wondering) For the second question we have the following:
\begin{align*}P(PP)&=P(PP\cap D)+P(PP\cap D^C) \\ & =P(PP\mid D)\cdot P(D)+P(PP\mid D^C)\cdot P(D^C)\\ & =P(P\mid D)^2\cdot P(D)+P(P\mid D^C)^2\cdot P(D^C)\\ & =0.95^2\cdot 0.01+0.05^2\cdot 0.99 \\ & =0.0115\end{align*}

Again the suggested result is different. It is $0, 784782609$. (Wondering)
 
Isn't the question for P(D|at least one positive) respectively P(D|both positive)? (Wondering)
 
I like Serena said:
Isn't the question for P(D|at least one positive) respectively P(D|both positive)? (Wondering)

Ah yes!

So, we have the following: $$P(D|\text{at least one positive})=\frac{P(D\cap \text{at least one positive})}{P(\text{at least one positive})}=\frac{P( \text{at least one positive}\mid D)\cdot P(D)}{0.1065}=\frac{P( \text{at least one positive}\mid D)\cdot 0.01}{0.1065}$$ Is everything correct so far? To what is $P( \text{at least one positive}\mid D)$ equal? (Wondering)
 
Yep! And P(at least one positive|D)=1-P(NN|D).
 
I like Serena said:
Yep! And P(at least one positive|D)=1-P(NN|D).

I see! Thank you! (Smile)
 

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