Question

A vehicle arriving at an intersection can turn right, turn left, or continue straight ahead. The experiment consists of observing the movement of a single vehicle through the intersection.

A) List the sample space for this experiment.
B) Assuming that all sample points are equally likely, find the probability that the vehicle turns.

Answer 1

a) Sample space (S) = {TR, TL, Cs}

b) Pr(Vehicle Turns) = 2/3.

Explanation:

a) By sample space (S) we mean the list all possible outcome of an event. From the illustration in the question, only three (3) outcome is possible:

i) Vehicle Turn Right (TR)

ii) Vehicle Turn Left (TL)

iii) Continue Straight ahead (Cs)

And since the experiment consists of observing the movement of a single vehicle through the intersection, then, the sample space (S) is:

==> {TR, TL, Cs}

b) Since we are assuming that all sample points are equally likely, it imply that they have equal probability of occurring. And by probability:

Pr(TR) = 1/3

Pr(TL) = 1/3

Pr(Cs) = 1/3

Meanwhile, the question wants us to find the probability that the vehicle turns. This means, the vehicle turning either right or left. Thus;

Pr(vehicle turns) = Pr(TR) or Pr(TL) = Pr(TR) + Pr(TL)

Pr(vehicle turns) = (1/3) + (1/3) = 2/3