[R] Looking for simpler solution to probabilistic question

[Berwin A Turlach]

G'day Rainer,

On Tue, 15 Jan 2008 14:24:08 +0200
Rainer M Krug <R.M.Krug at gmail.com> wrote:

> I have two processes which take with a certain probability (p1 and
> p2) x number of years to complete (age1 and age2). As soon as thge
> first process is completed, the second one begins. I want to
> calculate the time it takes for the both processes to be completed.
> 
> I have the following script which gives me the answer, butI think
> there must be a more elegant way of doing the calculations between
> the #####

The code between the #### together with the first line after the second
#### could be just shortened to:

> ager <- range(age1) + range(age2)
> ager <- ager[1]:ager[2]
> pp1 <- c(cumsum(p1), rev(cumsum(rev(p1))))
> pp2 <- c(cumsum(p2[-21]), rev(cumsum(rev(p2)))[-1])
> pr <- pp1+pp2
> pr <- pr/sum(pr)

> all.equal(p, pr)
[1] TRUE
> all.equal(age, ager)
[1] TRUE


If this is more elegant is probably in the eye of the beholder, but it
should definitely use less memory. :)

BTW, I am intrigued, in which situation does this problem arise?  The
time it takes the second process to finish seems to depend in a curious
way on the time it took the first process to complete.....

Cheers,

	Berwin

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