Question

Jerrica is selecting a winter coat from the available options listed in the table. The coats come in purple or blue and have different closures—buttons or a zipper. Based on the table, what is the likelihood she selects a coat with a zipper?

Options:
A. 1/4
B. 1/2
C. 2/3
D. 3/4

Answer 1

Based on the table, the likelihood that Jerrica selects a coat with a zipper is
`\( (2)/(5) \)` (Option C).

Step-by-step explanation:

To determine the likelihood of selecting a coat with a zipper, we can examine the table that presumably provides the distribution of coats. The number of coats with a zipper is 3, and the total number of available coats is 5 (2 purple coats with a zipper + 1 blue coat with a zipper). Therefore, the probability is given by
`\( \frac{\text{Number of favorable outcomes}}{\text{Total number of outcomes}} = (3)/(5) \)`.

Option C,
`\( (2)/(3) \)`, is the equivalent fraction to
`\( (3)/(5) \)`, and it represents the likelihood of selecting a coat with a zipper from the given options. This can be verified by reducing
`\( (3)/(5) \)` to its simplest form, resulting in
`\( (2)/(3) \)`. Therefore, the correct answer is
`\( (2)/(3) \)`, indicating that Jerrica is two-thirds likely to select a coat with a zipper.

Understanding basic probability concepts is essential for making informed decisions based on available data. In this case, the probability reflects the ratio of favorable outcomes (coats with a zipper) to the total number of outcomes (all available coats). The calculated probability represents the likelihood of a particular event occurring and aids in decision-making when faced with multiple options.