Question

Among fatal plane crashes that occurred during the past 55 ​years, 384 were due to pilot​ error, 69 were due to other human​ error, 362 were due to​ weather, 435 were due to mechanical​ problems, and 338 were due to sabotage. Construct the relative frequency distribution. What is the most serious threat to aviation​ safety, and can anything be done about​ it?

Answer 1

`\begin{array}{ccc}{Error} & {f} & {RF} & {Pilot} & {384} & {0.242} & {Human} & {69} & {0.043} & {Weather} & {362}& {0.228}& {Mechanical} & {435}& {0.274} & {Sabotage} & {338}& {0.213} \ \end{array}`

The most serious threat is mechanical problems.

Explanation:

Given

`Pilot \to 384`

`Human \to 69`

`Weather \to 362`

`Mechanical \to 435`

`Sabotage \to 338`

Solving (a): The relative frequency table

The relative frequency (RF) is calculated as:

`RF = (Frequency)/(Total\ Frequency)`

Where

`Total\ Frequency = 384 + 69 + 362+ 435 +338`

`Total\ Frequency = 1588`

So, the relative frequencies is as follows:

`Pilot = 384/1588 = 0.242`

`Human = 69/1588 = 0.043`

`Weather = 362/1588 =0.228`

`Mechanical = 435/1588 = 0.274`

`Sabotage = 338/1588 = 0.213`

So, the relative frequency table is:

`\begin{array}{ccc}{Error} & {f} & {RF} & {Pilot} & {384} & {0.242} & {Human} & {69} & {0.043} & {Weather} & {362}& {0.228}& {Mechanical} & {435}& {0.274} & {Sabotage} & {338}& {0.213} \ \end{array}`

Solving (b): The most serious threat

The most serious threat is the one with the highest frequency, and that is the mechanical problems.

Carrying out maintenance schedule and removal of potential threat are some of the ways it can be minimized.