• Congratulations to the Class of 2024 on your results!
    Let us know how you went here
    Got a question about your uni preferences? Ask us here

Probability question help (1 Viewer)

plutonium-238

Member
Joined
Mar 5, 2013
Messages
88
Gender
Male
HSC
2015
Can someone please help me with this question:

The chance of a fisherman catching a legal length fish is 4 in 5. If three fish are caught at random, what is the probability that exactly one is of legal length?

Thanks!!
 

bokat

Active Member
Joined
Sep 12, 2006
Messages
214
Gender
Male
HSC
N/A
Since the chance of catching a legal length is 4/5, the chance of not catching one is 1/5.
Since we talk about 3 catches then:
4/5x1/5x1/5=4/125 is the chance of 1st catch only being a legal length
1/5x4/5x1/5=4/125 is the chance of 2nd catch only being a legal length
1/5x1/5x4/5=4/125 is the chance of 3rd catch only being a legal length
Since all these scenarios are acceptable, the chance of exactly on legal length
is the sum of all which is 12/125.

Reza Bokat
www.cambridgecoaching.com.au
 

Carrotsticks

Retired
Joined
Jun 29, 2009
Messages
9,494
Gender
Undisclosed
HSC
N/A
You don't need to calculate it three times.

Since there is no distinction between the fish, we can just find the probability for one case and then multiply by three, since all the other cases will be exactly the same.
 

bokat

Active Member
Joined
Sep 12, 2006
Messages
214
Gender
Male
HSC
N/A
You don't need to calculate it three times.

Since there is no distinction between the fish, we can just find the probability for one case and then multiply by three, since all the other cases will be exactly the same.
Yes, but we are talking about 2 unit course, not 3 unit or 4 unit. Each course requires its own approach.

Reza Bokat,

www.cambridgecoaching.com.au
 

Users Who Are Viewing This Thread (Users: 0, Guests: 1)

Top