Race and ethnicity The Census Bureau allows each person to choose from a long list of races. That is, in the eyes of the Census Bureau, you belong to whatever race you say you belong to. Hispanic (also called Latino) is a separate category. Hispanics may be of any race. If we choose a resident of the United States at random, the Census Bureau gives these probabilities:25

(a) Verify that this is a legitimate assignment of probabilities.

(b) What is the probability that a randomly chosen American is Hispanic?

(c) Non-Hispanic whites are the historical majority in the United States. What is the probability that a randomly chosen American is not a member of this group?

(d) Explain why P(white or Hispanic) ≠ P(white) +P(Hispanic). Then find P(white or Hispanic).

  • Use a Venn diagram to model a chance process involving two events.
  • Use the general addition rule to calculate P(A ∪ B).

Short Answer

Expert verified

Part (a) The assignment of probabilities is a legitimate probability distribution.

Part (b) P (Hispanic) = 14.9%

Part (c) P (Hispanic) = 14.9%

Part (d) P (White or Hispanic) = 82.3%

Step by step solution

01

Step 1. Given Information

Each person can choose from a vast list of races when filling out the census bureau. A genuine probability distribution is probabilities.

If the census bureau chose the United States at random, the following probability would apply:

02

Part (a) Step 2. Concept

Addition rule: P(AorB)=P(A)+P(A)P(AandB)

03

Part (a) Step 3. Calculation

All probabilities must be in the range of 0to 1(including 0 and 1also).

As a result, the criterion is met.

The total number of probability must equal one: 0.001+0.006+0.003+0.044+0.124+0.674+0.009=1

Because both conditions are met, assigning probabilities is a valid probability distribution.

04

Part (b) Step 1. Calculation

The total of all Hispanic probabilities for each race is the probability of being Hispanic: P(Hispanic)=0.001+0.006+0.139+0.003=0.149=14.9%

05

Part (c) Step 1. Given

P(Nothispanicandwhite)=0.674

06

Part (c) Step 2. Concept

Complement rule: P(notA)=1P(A)

07

Part (c) Step 3. Calculation 

Complement rule: P(notA)=1P(A)

Then calculate the likelihood of selecting an American who is not Hispanic or White at random. P(not(NotHispanicandwhite))=1P(NotHispanicandwhite)=10.674=0.326=32.6%

P(Hispanic)=0.001+0.006+0.139+0.003=0.149=14.9%

08

Part (d) Step 1. Given

The equation is P(WhiteorHispanic)P(White)+P(Hispanic)

09

Part (d) Step 2. Calculation

"White and Hispanic are not mutually exclusive, that there are persons who can be both white and Hispanic," according to the events.

Addition rule: P(AorB)=P(A)+P(A)P(AandB)

The sum of all probabilities of being white for and not being Hispanic is the chance of being Hispanic: P(Hispanic)=0.001+0.006+0.139+0.003=0.149

For Hispanics and non-Hispanics, the likelihood of being Hispanic equals the sum of the probabilities of being white:P(White)=0.139+0764=0.813

from the table P(WhiteandHispanic)=0.139

As a result, the following was obtained:

P(WhiteorHispanic)=P(White)+P(Hispanic)P(WhiteandHispanic)P(WhiteandHispanic)

=0.813+0.1490.139=0.823=82.3%

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