222,855 views
40 votes
40 votes
68% of US adults have very little confidence in newspapers you randomly select 10 US adults find the probability that the number of US adults who have very little confidence in newspapers is (a) exactly five, (b) at least six, (c) less than four.

User Sajib
by
2.9k points

1 Answer

22 votes
22 votes

Answer:

A) 12.29%

B) 81.33%

C) 1.55%

Explanation:

This is a binomial model, and I assume you're meant to use a calculator to solve.

A)

This is what I have in my notes for the binompdf function:

  • binompdf(n, p, x) - find the probability of exactly x successes in n trials given p probability

That is exactly what we want in this case, we're looking for exactly 5 people who meet the conditions (successes) given n trials and p probability.

Using a calculator:

binompdf(10, 0.68, 5) ≈ 0.1229

That means you have about a 12.29% chance to randomly select exactly 5 adults who have little confidence in newspapers.

B)

For this one, use the binomcdf function:

  • binomcdf(n, p, x) - find the probability of x or fewer successes in n trials given p probability

In this case, we're looking for more, not less. However, you can think of the probability of getting more than 6 as just the probability of not getting less than 6.

With a calculator:

binomcdf(10, 0.68, 5) ≈ 0.1867

That means you have about an 18.67% chance to randomly select 5 or less people. We're looking for more though. As said above, the probability of getting 6 or more is just the probability of not getting 5 or less. To find the probability of something not happening, just subtract the probability from 1.

1 - 0.1867 = 0.8133

An 81.33% chance to randomly select at least 6 adults who have little confidence in newspapers.

C)

Same as the above, I don't see a need to explain it all again. Use binomcdf:

binomcdf(10, 0.68, 3) = 0.0155

Notice I used 3 rather than 4. binomcdf calculates x or fewer, or 'rather less than or equal to'. We want just 'less than 4', and that means 'less than or equal to 3'.

That's a 1.55% chance to select less than 4 adults with little confidence in newspapers.

User Aneuris
by
3.2k points