what are the odds, you are here as well!
does "what are the odds" this sentence mean "what a surprise" or "what a coincidence"?
does "what are the odds" this sentence mean "what a surprise" or "what a coincidence"?
What are the odds
No, it means exactly what it says. What are the odds that you are here in the same place as I. 1 in 10000 perhaps?
"Odds" basically means "probability". "What are the odds of that?" expresses the idea that something unlikely just occurred. Another way of saying it is "What are the chances of that?" In your sentence, the speaker simply omitted the "of that" part.
- Kef
- Kef
Actually "odds" and probability are slightly different. From Wikipedia: "In probability theory and statistics the odds in favour of an event or a proposition are the quantity p / (1 − p) , where p is the probability of the event or proposition."
If p is the probability of an event, it should be 1-p, not p/1-p. Correct me if I'm wrong.
<< Actually "odds" and probability are slightly different. >>
I know that, but we're not really talking about mathematics, and I didn't want to complicate the discussion. In common parlance, the two are at least somewhat interchangeable. One could say "the odds are 75%" or "the probability is 75%", and the listener's interpretation would be the same. They're really only distinguished when a number is given as a ratio.
<< If p is the probability of an event, it should be 1-p, not p/1-p. Correct me if I'm wrong. >>
I'm afraid you're wrong. Suppose the probability of an event is 1/3. Then the odds are 1:2, because for every 1 time it happens, there are, on average, 2 times it does not. (1/3) / (1 - 1/3) = 1/2, the expected ratio. But 1 - 1/3 is not 1/2, it is 2/3.
- Kef
I know that, but we're not really talking about mathematics, and I didn't want to complicate the discussion. In common parlance, the two are at least somewhat interchangeable. One could say "the odds are 75%" or "the probability is 75%", and the listener's interpretation would be the same. They're really only distinguished when a number is given as a ratio.
<< If p is the probability of an event, it should be 1-p, not p/1-p. Correct me if I'm wrong. >>
I'm afraid you're wrong. Suppose the probability of an event is 1/3. Then the odds are 1:2, because for every 1 time it happens, there are, on average, 2 times it does not. (1/3) / (1 - 1/3) = 1/2, the expected ratio. But 1 - 1/3 is not 1/2, it is 2/3.
- Kef
OK, i believed that odds meant the probability of not happening that event but it means this ratio : probability of happening / probability of not happening, right?