Question

a company has 2 photocopy machines. The probability that machine A will break down on a given day is 2%. The probability that machine B will break down is 2.5%. What is the probability that both machines will break down on a given day? Give your answer as a percent

Answer 1

Answer: 0.05%

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Work Shown:

To go from percent form to decimal form, move the decimal over 2 spots to the left. Think of 2% as 2.0%
2% = 0.02
2.5% = 0.025

Multiply the decimal form of each percentage
0.02*0.025 = 0.0005

Convert that result to a percentage. Move the decimal 2 spots to the right
0.0005 = 0.05% is the probability both break down

Note: This multiplication rule only works if the two events are independent.