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Is P(x greater than 2)= -.0.005 a valid probability statement?

User Jhermann
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Final answer:

No, P(x greater than 2) = -0.005 is not a valid probability statement because probabilities must be between 0 and 1 inclusive, and a negative probability does not fulfill this criterion.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question asks if P(x greater than 2) = -0.005 is a valid probability statement. In probability theory, the value of a probability must always lie between 0 and 1, inclusive. This represents the range from an impossibility (0) to a certainty (1). Therefore, a probability value like -0.005, which is negative, is not valid and does not represent a real-world scenario.

A correct probability statement must adhere to the fundamental rules of probabilities. For example, P(x ≥ 0) = 0.80 is a valid probability statement because it falls within the required range from 0 to 1. Similarly, P(x ≤ 3) = 0.95 is also valid for the same reason. However, a statement like P(x > 2) = -0.005 does not conform to the basic principles of probability and is therefore not valid.

User Amiri Houssem
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