Calculating Probabilities Based on a Saint Index survey, assume that when adults are asked to identify the most unpopular projects for their hometown, 54% include WalMart among their choices. Suppose we want to find the probability that when five adults are randomly selected, exactly two of them include WalMart. What is wrong with using the multiplication rule to find the probability of getting two adults who include WalMart followed by three people who do not include WalMart, as in this calculation: (0.54)(0.54)(0.46)(0.46)(0.46)?
Read moreTable of Contents
Textbook Solutions for Elementary Statistics
Question
Composite Sampling. Exercises 41 and 42 involve the method of composite sampling, whereby a medical testing laboratory saves time and money by combining blood samples for tests so that only one test is conducted for several people. A combined sample tests positive if at least one person has the disease. If a combined sample tests positive, then individual blood tests are used to identify the individual with the disease. HIV The probability of a randomly selected adult in the United States being infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is 0.006 (basedon data from the Kaiser Family Foundation). In tests for HIV, blood samples from 24 people are combined. What is the probability that the combinedsample tests positive for HIV? Is it unlikely for such a combined sample to test positive?
Solution
The first step in solving 5-3 problem number 41 trying to solve the problem we have to refer to the textbook question: Composite Sampling. Exercises 41 and 42 involve the method of composite sampling, whereby a medical testing laboratory saves time and money by combining blood samples for tests so that only one test is conducted for several people. A combined sample tests positive if at least one person has the disease. If a combined sample tests positive, then individual blood tests are used to identify the individual with the disease. HIV The probability of a randomly selected adult in the United States being infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is 0.006 (basedon data from the Kaiser Family Foundation). In tests for HIV, blood samples from 24 people are combined. What is the probability that the combinedsample tests positive for HIV? Is it unlikely for such a combined sample to test positive?
From the textbook chapter Binomial Probability Distributions you will find a few key concepts needed to solve this.
Visible to paid subscribers only
Step 3 of 7)Visible to paid subscribers only
full solution