Subjective Probability Estimate the probability that the next time you turn on a light switch, you discover that a bulb does work.

Short Answer

Expert verified

An estimate of the probability that the next time the bulb will glow when the light switch is turned on is equal to 0.998.

Step by step solution

01

Given information

Consider an event that a bulb does not glows when the light switch is pressed.

02

Describe the probability

The ratio of the number of favorable outcomes of an event to the total number of outcomes is theprobability of that event.

Subjective probabilityis determined by an estimated belief of a person and not by conducting an experiment and noting the outcomes.

It is considered a rough estimate and is based onprevious experience.

The subjective probability is random and may vary per the experiences of events in the past.

03

Estimating the probability

Consider a situation thatthe individual believes that 2 in 1000 attempts, the switch does not work.

The probability that the bulb would not work on any arbitrary attempt is 0.002.

Based on this experience, it can be estimated that the next time a light switch is pressed, there is a fairly high chance equal to 0.998 that the bulb will glow.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

In Exercises 25–32, find the probability and answer the questions. XSORT Gender Selection MicroSort’s XSORT gender selection technique was designed to increase the likelihood that a baby will be a girl. At one point before clinical trials of the XSORT gender selection technique were discontinued, 945 births consisted of 879 baby girls and 66 baby boys (based on data from the Genetics & IVF Institute). Based on these results, what is the probability of a girl born to a couple using MicroSort’s XSORT method? Does it appear that the technique is effective in increasing the likelihood that a baby will be a girl?

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In Exercises 9–20, use the data in the following table, which lists drive-thru order accuracy at popular fast food chains (data from a QSR Drive-Thru Study). Assume that orders are randomly selected from those included in the table.

McDonald’s

Burger King

Wendy’s

Taco Bell

Order Accurate

329

264

249

145

OrderNotAccurate

33

54

31

13

Fast Food Drive-Thru Accuracy If one order is selected, find the probability of getting an order from McDonald’s or an order that is accurate. Are the events of selecting an order from McDonald’s and selecting an accurate order disjoint events?

In Exercises 21–24, refer to the sample data in Table 4-1, which is included with the Chapter Problem. Assume that 1 of the 555 subjects included in Table 4-1 is randomly selected.


Positive Test Result

(Test shows drug use)

Negative Test Result

(Test shows no drug use)

Subject Uses Drugs

45 (True Positive)

5 (False Negative)

Subject Does Not Use drugs

25 (False Positive)

480 (True Negative)

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Positive Test Result

Negative Test Result

Hepatitis C

335

10

No Hepatitis C

2

1153

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