Question

The proportion of U.S. births that result in a birth defect is approximately 1/33 according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). A local hospital randomly selects five births and lets the random variable X count the number not resulting in a defect. Assume the births are independent. If 500 births were observed rather than only 5, what is the approximate probability that at least 490 do not result in birth defects

Answer 1

Probability that at least 490 do not result in birth defects = 0.1076

Explanation:

Given - The proportion of U.S. births that result in a birth defect is approximately 1/33 according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). A local hospital randomly selects five births and lets the random variable X count the number not resulting in a defect. Assume the births are independent.

To find - If 500 births were observed rather than only 5, what is the approximate probability that at least 490 do not result in birth defects

Proof -

Given that,

P(birth that result in a birth defect) = 1/33

P(birth that not result in a birth defect) = 1 - 1/33 = 32/33

Now,

Given that, n = 500

X = Number of birth that does not result in birth defects

Now,

P(X ≥ 490) =

=
+ .......+

= 0.04541 + ......+0.0000002079

= 0.1076

⇒Probability that at least 490 do not result in birth defects = 0.1076