Question

Isaac and William, in the mall parking lot, have found 11 quarters, 3 fifty-cent pieces, 36 dimes, 40 nickels, and 134 pennies. What is the experimental probability that the next coin they find is worth more than ten cents?

Answer 1

`(1)/(16)`

Explanation:

The experimental probability is based on what already happened.

So we see that both of them found a total of 11 + 3 + 36 + 40 + 134 = 224 coins.

The coins that are worth MORE THAN 10 cents are 11 quarters and 3 fifty-cent pieces (we exclude dimes because we want MORE THAN 10 cents, NOT 10 cents exactly).

So 11 + 3 = 14 coins are worth MORE THAN 10.

So the probability of finding one worth more than 10 cents next is 14/224 = 1/16