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Quickly review these
statements
before beginning this practice set.
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Empirical
probability
can
be thought of as the most accurate scientific "guess"
based on the results of experiments to collect data about an
event.
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Theoretical
probability
is
the ratio of the number of ways the event can occur to the total
number of possibilities in the sample space.
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Answer the following question dealing with empirical vs theoretical probability:
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1. |
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Geologists
say that the probability of a major earthquake occurring
the San Francisco Bay area in the next 30 years is about
90%. Is this empirical probability or theoretical
probability?
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Choose:
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2. |
| Result |
Frequency |
| 1 |
3 |
| 2 |
6 |
| 3 |
4 |
| 4 |
6 |
| 5 |
4 |
| 6 |
7 |
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A fair die is tossed.
The results appear in the table at the left.
a) Based on this data, what is the
empirical probability of
tossing a 4?
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Choose:
Part a:
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b) What is the
theoretical probability of
tossing a 4? |
Choose:
Part b:
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Each
problem below is described for a fair, unbiased object.
These questions are to be answered without conducting an experiment.
Use your knowledge of the theoretical probability in each case.
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1. |
A
six-sided die is rolled. The sides show dots that
range from 1 dot to 6 dots. What is the probability
that when rolled, the side with 3 dots will appear on the
top of the die?
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Choose:
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2. |
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A
standard deck of cards contains 52 cards. There are
4 suits:
hearts,
diamonds,
clubs and spades. Each suit contains 13 cards.
You are asked to select a card from the deck without
looking. What is the probability of drawing a ten?
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Choose:
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3. |
A
bottle contains 8 marbles: 3 are red and 5 are
blue. You are to take a marble from the bottle
without looking. What is the probability that you
will pick a red marble?
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Choose:
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4. |
Our
alphabet contains 26 letters. Five of these letters
are vowels (A, E, I, O, U). The remaining 21 letters
are called consonants. Each letter of the alphabet
is written on a card and you are asked to choose a
card. What is the probability of choosing a
consonant?
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Choose:
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5. |
A
six-sided die is rolled. What is the probability of
rolling a 6?
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Choose:
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