Module 6 · Probability and Random Variables Lesson 55 of 120
Bayes’ Theorem and Base Rates
Why a good fraud detector can still generate many false alarms.
Transcript
23 sentences · select one to jump thereCheck your understanding
How many false flags arise in the 10,000-transaction example?
Code lab
Run it yourself
The lesson source in 7 languages. Edit it, run TypeScript and Python right here, and compare with the expected output.
/**
* Fintech Math Bootcamp · Lesson 055 of 120
* Bayes’ Theorem and Base Rates
* Module 06: Probability and Random Variables
*
* Scenario: Why a good fraud detector can still generate many false alarms
* Rule: posterior = sensitivity·prior / [sensitivity·prior + FPR·(1−prior)]
*
* Try it: How many false flags arise in the 10,000-transaction example?
*
* Lesson article: https://thefintechbuilder.com/financial-mathematics-statistics-and-data-foundations/probability-and-random-variables/bayes-theorem-and-base-rates/
* Free course: https://courses.thefintechbuilder.com
* Synthetic teaching example, not financial advice or a production library.
*/
export function lesson055() {
const prior=.01, sensitivity=.90, falsePositiveRate=.05;
const truePositiveMass=sensitivity*prior;
const falsePositiveMass=falsePositiveRate*(1-prior);
const result = truePositiveMass/(truePositiveMass+falsePositiveMass);
return result;
}
export const checkedResult = 0.15384615384615385;
// Run this file directly: npx tsx lessons/06-probability-and-random-variables/055-bayes-theorem-and-base-rates.ts
if (process.argv[1] && import.meta.url.endsWith(process.argv[1].replace(/\\/g, "/").split("/").pop()!)) {
console.log(JSON.stringify(lesson055(), null, 2));
}
Your output
Press Run to execute the code in your browser.
Expected output
0.15384615384615385# Fintech Math Bootcamp · Lesson 055 of 120
# Bayes’ Theorem and Base Rates
# Module 06: Probability and Random Variables
#
# Scenario: Why a good fraud detector can still generate many false alarms
# Rule: posterior = sensitivity·prior / [sensitivity·prior + FPR·(1−prior)]
#
# Try it: How many false flags arise in the 10,000-transaction example?
#
# Lesson article: https://thefintechbuilder.com/financial-mathematics-statistics-and-data-foundations/probability-and-random-variables/bayes-theorem-and-base-rates/
# Free course: https://courses.thefintechbuilder.com
# Synthetic teaching example, not financial advice or a production library.
import json
def lesson055() -> float:
prior, sensitivity, false_positive_rate = 0.01, 0.90, 0.05
true_positive_mass = sensitivity * prior
false_positive_mass = false_positive_rate * (1 - prior)
return true_positive_mass / (true_positive_mass + false_positive_mass)
if __name__ == "__main__":
print(json.dumps(lesson055(), indent=2))
Your output
Press Run to execute the code in your browser.
Expected output
0.15384615384615385/**
* Fintech Math Bootcamp · Lesson 055 of 120
* Bayes’ Theorem and Base Rates
* Module 06: Probability and Random Variables
*
* Scenario: Why a good fraud detector can still generate many false alarms
* Rule: posterior = sensitivity·prior / [sensitivity·prior + FPR·(1−prior)]
*
* Try it: How many false flags arise in the 10,000-transaction example?
*
* Lesson article: https://thefintechbuilder.com/financial-mathematics-statistics-and-data-foundations/probability-and-random-variables/bayes-theorem-and-base-rates/
* Free course: https://courses.thefintechbuilder.com
* Synthetic teaching example, not financial advice or a production library.
*/
import java.util.ArrayList;
import java.util.List;
import java.util.Map;
public class Main {
// P(fraud | flag) from the base rate, sensitivity and false-positive rate.
static double lesson055() {
double prior = 0.01, sensitivity = 0.90, falsePositiveRate = 0.05;
double truePositiveMass = sensitivity * prior;
double falsePositiveMass = falsePositiveRate * (1 - prior);
return truePositiveMass / (truePositiveMass + falsePositiveMass);
}
public static void main(String[] args) {
System.out.println(toJson(lesson055(), ""));
}
// --- Minimal JSON printer: maps keep insertion order, 2-space indent. ---
static String toJson(Object value, String indent) {
if (value == null) return "null";
if (value instanceof String) return "\"" + value + "\"";
if (value instanceof Double) return formatNumber((Double) value);
if (value instanceof Number) return value.toString();
if (value instanceof double[]) {
List<Object> items = new ArrayList<Object>();
for (double v : (double[]) value) items.add(v);
return toJson(items, indent);
}
String inner = indent + " ";
StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder();
if (value instanceof Map) {
Map<?, ?> map = (Map<?, ?>) value;
if (map.isEmpty()) return "{}";
sb.append("{\n");
int i = 0;
for (Map.Entry<?, ?> entry : map.entrySet()) {
sb.append(inner).append('"').append(entry.getKey()).append("\": ")
.append(toJson(entry.getValue(), inner))
.append(++i < map.size() ? ",\n" : "\n");
}
return sb.append(indent).append('}').toString();
}
List<?> list = (List<?>) value;
if (list.isEmpty()) return "[]";
sb.append("[\n");
for (int i = 0; i < list.size(); i++) {
sb.append(inner).append(toJson(list.get(i), inner))
.append(i + 1 < list.size() ? ",\n" : "\n");
}
return sb.append(indent).append(']').toString();
}
static String formatNumber(double v) {
if (Double.isNaN(v) || Double.isInfinite(v)) return "null";
if (v == Math.rint(v) && Math.abs(v) < 1e15) return Long.toString((long) v);
return Double.toString(v);
}
}
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Read the code here, then run it in your own toolchain or a ready-made cloud workspace.
Expected output
0.15384615384615385// Fintech Math Bootcamp · Lesson 055 of 120
// Bayes’ Theorem and Base Rates
// Module 06: Probability and Random Variables
//
// Scenario: Why a good fraud detector can still generate many false alarms
// Rule: posterior = sensitivity·prior / [sensitivity·prior + FPR·(1−prior)]
//
// Try it: How many false flags arise in the 10,000-transaction example?
//
// Lesson article: https://thefintechbuilder.com/financial-mathematics-statistics-and-data-foundations/probability-and-random-variables/bayes-theorem-and-base-rates/
// Free course: https://courses.thefintechbuilder.com
// Synthetic teaching example, not financial advice or a production library.
package main
import (
"encoding/json"
"fmt"
)
// lesson055 returns P(fraud | flag) from the base rate, sensitivity and false-positive rate.
func lesson055() float64 {
prior, sensitivity, falsePositiveRate := 0.01, 0.90, 0.05
truePositiveMass := sensitivity * prior
falsePositiveMass := falsePositiveRate * (1 - prior)
return truePositiveMass / (truePositiveMass + falsePositiveMass)
}
func main() {
out, _ := json.MarshalIndent(lesson055(), "", " ")
fmt.Println(string(out))
}
No browser runner for Go yet
Read the code here, then run it in your own toolchain or a ready-made cloud workspace.
Expected output
0.15384615384615385/**
* Fintech Math Bootcamp · Lesson 055 of 120
* Bayes’ Theorem and Base Rates
* Module 06: Probability and Random Variables
*
* Scenario: Why a good fraud detector can still generate many false alarms
* Rule: posterior = sensitivity·prior / [sensitivity·prior + FPR·(1−prior)]
*
* Try it: How many false flags arise in the 10,000-transaction example?
*
* Lesson article: https://thefintechbuilder.com/financial-mathematics-statistics-and-data-foundations/probability-and-random-variables/bayes-theorem-and-base-rates/
* Free course: https://courses.thefintechbuilder.com
* Synthetic teaching example, not financial advice or a production library.
*/
#include <charconv>
#include <cmath>
#include <iostream>
#include <string>
#include <utility>
#include <vector>
// --- Minimal JSON value and printer: objects keep insertion order, 2-space indent. ---
struct Json {
enum class Kind { Null, Number, Text, Array, Object };
Kind kind = Kind::Null;
double number = 0;
std::string text;
std::vector<std::string> keys; // object keys, parallel to items
std::vector<Json> items; // array elements or object values
};
Json num(double v) { Json j; j.kind = Json::Kind::Number; j.number = v; return j; }
Json str(const std::string& s) { Json j; j.kind = Json::Kind::Text; j.text = s; return j; }
Json arr(const std::vector<Json>& values) { Json j; j.kind = Json::Kind::Array; j.items = values; return j; }
Json arr(const std::vector<double>& values) {
std::vector<Json> items;
for (double v : values) items.push_back(num(v));
return arr(items);
}
Json obj(const std::vector<std::pair<std::string, Json>>& fields) {
Json j;
j.kind = Json::Kind::Object;
for (const auto& [key, value] : fields) { j.keys.push_back(key); j.items.push_back(value); }
return j;
}
std::string formatNumber(double v) {
if (!std::isfinite(v)) return "null";
char buf[64];
auto end = std::to_chars(buf, buf + sizeof buf, v).ptr; // shortest round-trip form
return std::string(buf, end);
}
void writeJson(std::ostream& out, const Json& j, const std::string& indent) {
switch (j.kind) {
case Json::Kind::Null: out << "null"; return;
case Json::Kind::Number: out << formatNumber(j.number); return;
case Json::Kind::Text: out << '"' << j.text << '"'; return;
default: break;
}
bool isObject = j.kind == Json::Kind::Object;
if (j.items.empty()) { out << (isObject ? "{}" : "[]"); return; }
std::string inner = indent + " ";
out << (isObject ? "{\n" : "[\n");
for (size_t i = 0; i < j.items.size(); ++i) {
out << inner;
if (isObject) out << '"' << j.keys[i] << "\": ";
writeJson(out, j.items[i], inner);
out << (i + 1 < j.items.size() ? ",\n" : "\n");
}
out << indent << (isObject ? '}' : ']');
}
// --- Lesson ---
// P(fraud | flag) from the base rate, sensitivity and false-positive rate.
Json lesson055() {
const double prior = 0.01, sensitivity = 0.90, falsePositiveRate = 0.05;
const double truePositiveMass = sensitivity * prior;
const double falsePositiveMass = falsePositiveRate * (1 - prior);
return num(truePositiveMass / (truePositiveMass + falsePositiveMass));
}
int main() {
writeJson(std::cout, lesson055(), "");
std::cout << '\n';
}
No browser runner for C++ yet
Read the code here, then run it in your own toolchain or a ready-made cloud workspace.
Expected output
0.15384615384615385// Fintech Math Bootcamp · Lesson 055 of 120
// Bayes’ Theorem and Base Rates
// Module 06: Probability and Random Variables
//
// Scenario: Why a good fraud detector can still generate many false alarms
// Rule: posterior = sensitivity·prior / [sensitivity·prior + FPR·(1−prior)]
//
// Try it: How many false flags arise in the 10,000-transaction example?
//
// Lesson article: https://thefintechbuilder.com/financial-mathematics-statistics-and-data-foundations/probability-and-random-variables/bayes-theorem-and-base-rates/
// Free course: https://courses.thefintechbuilder.com
// Synthetic teaching example, not financial advice or a production library.
// --- Minimal JSON value and printer: objects keep insertion order, 2-space indent. ---
#[allow(dead_code)]
enum Json {
Null,
Num(f64),
Str(String),
Arr(Vec<Json>),
Obj(Vec<(String, Json)>),
}
#[allow(dead_code)]
fn nums(values: &[f64]) -> Json {
Json::Arr(values.iter().map(|&v| Json::Num(v)).collect())
}
#[allow(dead_code)]
fn obj(fields: Vec<(&str, Json)>) -> Json {
Json::Obj(fields.into_iter().map(|(k, v)| (k.to_string(), v)).collect())
}
fn format_number(v: f64) -> String {
if !v.is_finite() {
return "null".to_string();
}
if v.fract() == 0.0 && v.abs() < 1e15 {
return format!("{}", v as i64);
}
format!("{:?}", v) // shortest round-trip form
}
impl Json {
fn render(&self, indent: &str) -> String {
let inner = format!("{} ", indent);
match self {
Json::Null => "null".to_string(),
Json::Num(v) => format_number(*v),
Json::Str(s) => format!("\"{}\"", s),
Json::Arr(items) if items.is_empty() => "[]".to_string(),
Json::Obj(fields) if fields.is_empty() => "{}".to_string(),
Json::Arr(items) => {
let lines: Vec<String> = items.iter().map(|v| format!("{}{}", inner, v.render(&inner))).collect();
format!("[\n{}\n{}]", lines.join(",\n"), indent)
}
Json::Obj(fields) => {
let lines: Vec<String> = fields
.iter()
.map(|(k, v)| format!("{}\"{}\": {}", inner, k, v.render(&inner)))
.collect();
format!("{{\n{}\n{}}}", lines.join(",\n"), indent)
}
}
}
}
// --- Lesson ---
/// P(fraud | flag) from the base rate, sensitivity and false-positive rate.
fn lesson055() -> Json {
let (prior, sensitivity, false_positive_rate): (f64, f64, f64) = (0.01, 0.90, 0.05);
let true_positive_mass = sensitivity * prior;
let false_positive_mass = false_positive_rate * (1.0 - prior);
Json::Num(true_positive_mass / (true_positive_mass + false_positive_mass))
}
fn main() {
println!("{}", lesson055().render(""));
}
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Read the code here, then run it in your own toolchain or a ready-made cloud workspace.
Expected output
0.15384615384615385/**
* Fintech Math Bootcamp · Lesson 055 of 120
* Bayes’ Theorem and Base Rates
* Module 06: Probability and Random Variables
*
* Scenario: Why a good fraud detector can still generate many false alarms
* Rule: posterior = sensitivity·prior / [sensitivity·prior + FPR·(1−prior)]
*
* Try it: How many false flags arise in the 10,000-transaction example?
*
* Lesson article: https://thefintechbuilder.com/financial-mathematics-statistics-and-data-foundations/probability-and-random-variables/bayes-theorem-and-base-rates/
* Free course: https://courses.thefintechbuilder.com
* Synthetic teaching example, not financial advice or a production library.
*/
using System;
using System.Text.Json;
var options = new JsonSerializerOptions { WriteIndented = true };
Console.WriteLine(JsonSerializer.Serialize(Lesson055(), options));
// P(fraud | flag) from the base rate, sensitivity and false-positive rate.
static double Lesson055()
{
double prior = 0.01, sensitivity = 0.90, falsePositiveRate = 0.05;
double truePositiveMass = sensitivity * prior;
double falsePositiveMass = falsePositiveRate * (1 - prior);
return truePositiveMass / (truePositiveMass + falsePositiveMass);
}
No browser runner for C# yet
Read the code here, then run it in your own toolchain or a ready-made cloud workspace.
Expected output
0.15384615384615385Prefer your own machine? Every file is in the course repository · open it in Codespaces.
Lesson notes
The rule
posterior = sensitivity·prior / [sensitivity·prior + FPR·(1−prior)]