Probable

From WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia

Probable is a term used in various fields, including medicine, statistics, and law, to denote a high likelihood or chance of an event or condition occurring. It is often used to describe the likelihood of a diagnosis in medicine, the likelihood of an event in statistics, or the likelihood of guilt in law.

Medicine[edit | edit source]

In medicine, the term probable is used to describe a diagnosis that is considered likely based on the available medical history, physical examination, and diagnostic tests. This is often used when a definitive diagnosis cannot be made, but the available evidence strongly suggests a particular condition.

For example, a patient with a history of smoking, a persistent cough, and abnormal findings on a chest X-ray may be given a probable diagnosis of lung cancer. However, a definitive diagnosis would require further testing, such as a biopsy.

Statistics[edit | edit source]

In statistics, probable refers to the likelihood of an event occurring. This is often expressed as a probability, which is a number between 0 and 1 that represents the chance of an event occurring. A probability of 1 means the event is certain to occur, while a probability of 0 means the event is certain not to occur.

For example, if a fair coin is flipped, the probability of it landing on heads is 0.5, meaning it is probable that it will land on heads.

Law[edit | edit source]

In law, probable is used to describe the likelihood of guilt. This is often used in the context of probable cause, which is the standard of evidence required for a warrant to be issued or an arrest to be made.

For example, if a police officer has probable cause to believe that a person has committed a crime, they can arrest that person without a warrant.

See also[edit | edit source]

Probable Resources

Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD