Chapter 4, Problem 1CQQ

A multiple-choice question on a statistics quiz has possible correct answers of a, b, c, d, e. What is the probability that “false” is the correct answer?

To determine

To obtain: The probability that “false” is the correct answer.

Answer to Problem 1CQQ

The probability that “false” is the correct answer is 0.

Explanation of Solution

Given info:

In a multiple-choice question, in which possible correct answers are ‘a, b, c, d, e’.

Calculation:

Let event A denote that randomly selected a correct answer.

The formula for probability of event A is,

$P\left(A\right)=\frac{\text{Number of ways event }A\text{ occurs}}{\text{Number of simple events}}$

Substitute 1 for ‘Number of ways of event A occurs’ and 5 for ‘Number of simple events’

$\begin{array}{c}P\left(A\right)=\frac{1}{5}\\ =0.2\end{array}$

Impossible event:

If the occurrence of event is not possible, then the event is considered as an impossible event. Also, the probability of a getting an impossible event is considered as 0.

Here, the option “false” is the correct answer is considered to be impossible event because the possible correct answers are ‘a, b, c, d, e’.

Hence, the probability that “false” is the correct answer is 0.

Conclusion:

There is a 0 probability for “false” is the correct answer.