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Should I use "probabilities" or "probability" in the following sentence?

Consider a probability vector v containing the probabilities of jumping to each vertex.

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This appears to be a fragment, not a sentence; and it's not clear which word you are asking about -- is it the first "probability" or the second "probabilities" you are considering? – Andrew Leach Jun 6 '12 at 23:35
@AndrewLeach 'consider' is imperative. – Mitch Jun 7 '12 at 0:04
are the probabilities (the coordinates of the vector presumably) distinct or are they all identical? – Mitch Jun 7 '12 at 0:05
my problem is about the second probabilities. Each vertex has a probability and they are placed in vector v. Should I use probabilities? – Shayan Jun 7 '12 at 0:14

2 Answers 2

For each vertex, there's only one probability. So you should say "... containing the probability of jumping to each vertex".

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Since a probability vector is a nonnegative vector whose coordinates sum to 1 ... If that is what you are talking about "a probability vector" would do it. It's much more a maths question .

edit: following your edit, it's more clear (it initially looked like your v was standing for versus), then, since in a probability vector there are several probabilities, the plural is ok for the second occurrence.

edit #2: I guess you are talking about being in one given vertex, which is associated to a vector giving the probabilities for going to one of the other vertices, right ?

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