a trading problem for mathematicians

Discussion in 'Trading' started by trend2009, Jun 15, 2011.

  1. Suppose I have two trading methods with no correlation to each other. each of the two methods, if applied alone to the market, has a winning rate of 60%. the question is: if the two methods applied at the same time to the market (the signal must be agreed by the two methods at the same time), what is the winning rate?

    Any mathematician here gives a try? and show how you get the result?
     
  2. I am not a mathematician but I know from elementary school that the particular winning rate will be the union of the probability spaces:

    w = .6 +.6 - .6 x.6 = 0.84 -> 84%

    Edit: For the proof you will have to offer something in exchange but it is trivial right from the axioms of probability.
     
  3. I doubt it is the answer. if we have 3 systems that have 60% each, what would be the winning rate then? would it be over 100%?

     
  4. Not enough info, but I'd say 60%
     
  5. DO you want to learn? I don't like people who have doubts.

    P(A+B) = P(A)+P(B) - P(A)P(B)

    P(A+B+C) = P(A)+P(B) +P(C) - P(A)P(B) - P(A)P(C) - P(B)P(C)

    = 0.72

    I guarantee to you that if the events are independent the union will have P <1.
     
  6. pbj

    pbj



    For 2 independent systems at 60% win rate each, the probability of both being wrong is (0.4)*(0.4) = 0.16, so the win rate when both agree is 1 - 0.16 = 84%.

    For 3 independent systems at 60% win rate each, the probability of all three being wrong is (0.4)*(0.4)*0.4 = 0.064, so the win rate when all three agree is 1 - 0.064 = 93.6%.
     
  7. the1

    the1

    If the two methods have no correlation to one another then if one system wins, by definition, the other system MUST lose and if that is the case then when one system goes long the other system must be going short. If this weren't true then at some point in the game both systems would either be long or short at the same time, giving them a correlation factor above zero. The gain in one system will be erased by the loss in the other system, thereby generating a win rate of 0%, assuming simultaneous exit.

    This problem isn't as easy as 0.6 x 0.6 = 36% win, or 0.4 x 0.4 = 16% lose because 36 + 16 is not equal to 100.

     
  8. what more information do you need?
     
  9. when you have two methods, the result is 0.86; with three, the result is 0.72?

    do not you think it is incorrect?

     
    #10     Jun 15, 2011