Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2015 / iii / Paper 35 / 7 / 1 / Solution

Let $T=\min (T_A,T_B)$ be the first event time and $J$ its type. The cause-specific hazard for A isIt is a rate among people free of both event types, not the marginal probability of eventually experiencing A. Under the given independent latent event times, their constant hazard functions give exponential survivor functions. Therefore the first-event survivor isThe combined first-event rate is $s=\alpha +\beta >0$. Subsequent formulas concerning conditioning on type A require $\alpha >0$.