Expected cost of eight successes where we can 'purchase' more attempts












1












$begingroup$


So we want to achieve $8$ successes where each trial has a probability of succeeding of $0.3$,



$$P(S) = 0.3.$$



We have $8$ "free" trials, and assuming we don't get lucky and get $8$ successes from our free trials, we can pay $1.00$ dollar for a $10%$ chance to regain one trial. So say we get $3$ successes from the free trials, then we would need to pay at least $5$ dollars [but expected value of $50$ dollars because $50times0.1 = 5$ successful $10%$ chances] to regain the $5$ unsuccessful attempts. What is our expected cost to obtain $8$ successes?



In my attempt I start with the expected number of successes from the $8$ free trials ($n times p = 8 times 0.3 = 2.4$) and then start a cycle; we have $5,6$ trials to be regained that we missed on the first trials, which would take an expected $$56.00$ (or fifty-six $10%$ chances) to regain.



Then from that we get an expected ($5.6 times 0.3 =$) $1.68$ successes and have $4.08$ successes total. Wash and repeat until we hit $8$ successes. I'm getting around $$185.00$ as an answer but I'm not sure of my answer and also curious if there's a better or less tedious way of doing this problem.



Any thoughts are appreciated. Thanks!










share|cite|improve this question











$endgroup$

















    1












    $begingroup$


    So we want to achieve $8$ successes where each trial has a probability of succeeding of $0.3$,



    $$P(S) = 0.3.$$



    We have $8$ "free" trials, and assuming we don't get lucky and get $8$ successes from our free trials, we can pay $1.00$ dollar for a $10%$ chance to regain one trial. So say we get $3$ successes from the free trials, then we would need to pay at least $5$ dollars [but expected value of $50$ dollars because $50times0.1 = 5$ successful $10%$ chances] to regain the $5$ unsuccessful attempts. What is our expected cost to obtain $8$ successes?



    In my attempt I start with the expected number of successes from the $8$ free trials ($n times p = 8 times 0.3 = 2.4$) and then start a cycle; we have $5,6$ trials to be regained that we missed on the first trials, which would take an expected $$56.00$ (or fifty-six $10%$ chances) to regain.



    Then from that we get an expected ($5.6 times 0.3 =$) $1.68$ successes and have $4.08$ successes total. Wash and repeat until we hit $8$ successes. I'm getting around $$185.00$ as an answer but I'm not sure of my answer and also curious if there's a better or less tedious way of doing this problem.



    Any thoughts are appreciated. Thanks!










    share|cite|improve this question











    $endgroup$















      1












      1








      1





      $begingroup$


      So we want to achieve $8$ successes where each trial has a probability of succeeding of $0.3$,



      $$P(S) = 0.3.$$



      We have $8$ "free" trials, and assuming we don't get lucky and get $8$ successes from our free trials, we can pay $1.00$ dollar for a $10%$ chance to regain one trial. So say we get $3$ successes from the free trials, then we would need to pay at least $5$ dollars [but expected value of $50$ dollars because $50times0.1 = 5$ successful $10%$ chances] to regain the $5$ unsuccessful attempts. What is our expected cost to obtain $8$ successes?



      In my attempt I start with the expected number of successes from the $8$ free trials ($n times p = 8 times 0.3 = 2.4$) and then start a cycle; we have $5,6$ trials to be regained that we missed on the first trials, which would take an expected $$56.00$ (or fifty-six $10%$ chances) to regain.



      Then from that we get an expected ($5.6 times 0.3 =$) $1.68$ successes and have $4.08$ successes total. Wash and repeat until we hit $8$ successes. I'm getting around $$185.00$ as an answer but I'm not sure of my answer and also curious if there's a better or less tedious way of doing this problem.



      Any thoughts are appreciated. Thanks!










      share|cite|improve this question











      $endgroup$




      So we want to achieve $8$ successes where each trial has a probability of succeeding of $0.3$,



      $$P(S) = 0.3.$$



      We have $8$ "free" trials, and assuming we don't get lucky and get $8$ successes from our free trials, we can pay $1.00$ dollar for a $10%$ chance to regain one trial. So say we get $3$ successes from the free trials, then we would need to pay at least $5$ dollars [but expected value of $50$ dollars because $50times0.1 = 5$ successful $10%$ chances] to regain the $5$ unsuccessful attempts. What is our expected cost to obtain $8$ successes?



      In my attempt I start with the expected number of successes from the $8$ free trials ($n times p = 8 times 0.3 = 2.4$) and then start a cycle; we have $5,6$ trials to be regained that we missed on the first trials, which would take an expected $$56.00$ (or fifty-six $10%$ chances) to regain.



      Then from that we get an expected ($5.6 times 0.3 =$) $1.68$ successes and have $4.08$ successes total. Wash and repeat until we hit $8$ successes. I'm getting around $$185.00$ as an answer but I'm not sure of my answer and also curious if there's a better or less tedious way of doing this problem.



      Any thoughts are appreciated. Thanks!







      probability statistics






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      edited Dec 17 '18 at 4:04









      Tianlalu

      3,08421138




      3,08421138










      asked Dec 17 '18 at 3:02









      Nance GaronNance Garon

      61




      61






















          1 Answer
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          $begingroup$

          Yes there is a simpler way. $frac{8}{0.3} = 26.667$ which rounds up to $27$ trials to get an expected $8$ successes. So you have to pay for another $19$ trials for which the expected number of $$1$ payments would $frac{19}{0.1} = 190$ hence the expected cost would be $$190$.






          share|cite|improve this answer









          $endgroup$









          • 1




            $begingroup$
            If this is an expected value, then there should be no issue I think with the expected number of required trials being fractional.
            $endgroup$
            – Riley
            Dec 17 '18 at 3:37











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          1 Answer
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          $begingroup$

          Yes there is a simpler way. $frac{8}{0.3} = 26.667$ which rounds up to $27$ trials to get an expected $8$ successes. So you have to pay for another $19$ trials for which the expected number of $$1$ payments would $frac{19}{0.1} = 190$ hence the expected cost would be $$190$.






          share|cite|improve this answer









          $endgroup$









          • 1




            $begingroup$
            If this is an expected value, then there should be no issue I think with the expected number of required trials being fractional.
            $endgroup$
            – Riley
            Dec 17 '18 at 3:37
















          1












          $begingroup$

          Yes there is a simpler way. $frac{8}{0.3} = 26.667$ which rounds up to $27$ trials to get an expected $8$ successes. So you have to pay for another $19$ trials for which the expected number of $$1$ payments would $frac{19}{0.1} = 190$ hence the expected cost would be $$190$.






          share|cite|improve this answer









          $endgroup$









          • 1




            $begingroup$
            If this is an expected value, then there should be no issue I think with the expected number of required trials being fractional.
            $endgroup$
            – Riley
            Dec 17 '18 at 3:37














          1












          1








          1





          $begingroup$

          Yes there is a simpler way. $frac{8}{0.3} = 26.667$ which rounds up to $27$ trials to get an expected $8$ successes. So you have to pay for another $19$ trials for which the expected number of $$1$ payments would $frac{19}{0.1} = 190$ hence the expected cost would be $$190$.






          share|cite|improve this answer









          $endgroup$



          Yes there is a simpler way. $frac{8}{0.3} = 26.667$ which rounds up to $27$ trials to get an expected $8$ successes. So you have to pay for another $19$ trials for which the expected number of $$1$ payments would $frac{19}{0.1} = 190$ hence the expected cost would be $$190$.







          share|cite|improve this answer












          share|cite|improve this answer



          share|cite|improve this answer










          answered Dec 17 '18 at 3:33









          Phil HPhil H

          4,2582312




          4,2582312








          • 1




            $begingroup$
            If this is an expected value, then there should be no issue I think with the expected number of required trials being fractional.
            $endgroup$
            – Riley
            Dec 17 '18 at 3:37














          • 1




            $begingroup$
            If this is an expected value, then there should be no issue I think with the expected number of required trials being fractional.
            $endgroup$
            – Riley
            Dec 17 '18 at 3:37








          1




          1




          $begingroup$
          If this is an expected value, then there should be no issue I think with the expected number of required trials being fractional.
          $endgroup$
          – Riley
          Dec 17 '18 at 3:37




          $begingroup$
          If this is an expected value, then there should be no issue I think with the expected number of required trials being fractional.
          $endgroup$
          – Riley
          Dec 17 '18 at 3:37


















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