Math  /  Data & Statistics

QuestionJaymes is taking a 19-question science test. a. If Jaymes guesses on each question, and the test contains 19 true-false questions, find the probability that he answers 9 questions correctly. \square State answer as a decimal rounded to six decimal places. b. If Jaymes guesses on each question, and the test contains 19 multiple-choice questions, find the probability that he answers 9 questions correctly when each question has 4 answer options. \square State answer as a decimal rounded to six decimal places.

Studdy Solution

STEP 1

What is this asking? What's the chance Jaymes gets exactly 9 questions right on a 19-question test if he's guessing, first for true/false, then for multiple choice with 4 options? Watch out! Don't mix up the formulas for true/false and multiple choice!
Also, remember we want *exactly* 9 correct answers, not at least 9.

STEP 2

1. True/False Probability
2. Multiple Choice Probability

STEP 3

Alright, let's dive into the true/false part!
We've got 19 questions, and Jaymes is taking a wild guess on each one.
The probability of getting a single true/false question right by guessing is 12 \frac{1}{2} , and the probability of getting it wrong is also 12 \frac{1}{2} .

STEP 4

We want to find the probability of getting *exactly* 9 questions right.
This is a binomial probability problem!
The formula for binomial probability is: P(X=k)=(nk)pk(1p)nk P(X=k) = \binom{n}{k} \cdot p^k \cdot (1-p)^{n-k} Where nn is the **number of trials** (19 questions), kk is the **number of successes** (9 correct answers), and pp is the **probability of success on a single trial** (12 \frac{1}{2} for guessing correctly).

STEP 5

Let's plug in our values: n=19n = 19, k=9k = 9, and p=12p = \frac{1}{2}.
So, we have: P(X=9)=(199)(12)9(112)199 P(X=9) = \binom{19}{9} \cdot \left(\frac{1}{2}\right)^9 \cdot \left(1-\frac{1}{2}\right)^{19-9}

STEP 6

Now, let's calculate!
First, the binomial coefficient: (199)=19!9!(199)!=19!9!10!=92378 \binom{19}{9} = \frac{19!}{9!(19-9)!} = \frac{19!}{9!10!} = 92378 Then, simplify the rest: (12)9=1512 \left(\frac{1}{2}\right)^9 = \frac{1}{512} (112)199=(12)10=11024 \left(1-\frac{1}{2}\right)^{19-9} = \left(\frac{1}{2}\right)^{10} = \frac{1}{1024}

STEP 7

Putting it all together: P(X=9)=92378151211024=923785242880.176261 P(X=9) = 92378 \cdot \frac{1}{512} \cdot \frac{1}{1024} = \frac{92378}{524288} \approx 0.176261

STEP 8

Now for the multiple-choice fun!
We still have 19 questions, but this time, each question has 4 options.
The probability of guessing correctly is 14 \frac{1}{4} , and the probability of guessing incorrectly is 34 \frac{3}{4} .

STEP 9

We're using the same binomial probability formula, but with different values: n=19n = 19, k=9k = 9, and p=14p = \frac{1}{4}. P(X=9)=(199)(14)9(114)199 P(X=9) = \binom{19}{9} \cdot \left(\frac{1}{4}\right)^9 \cdot \left(1-\frac{1}{4}\right)^{19-9}

STEP 10

We already know (199)=92378\binom{19}{9} = 92378.
Let's calculate the other parts: (14)9=1262144 \left(\frac{1}{4}\right)^9 = \frac{1}{262144} (114)199=(34)100.0563135 \left(1-\frac{1}{4}\right)^{19-9} = \left(\frac{3}{4}\right)^{10} \approx 0.0563135

STEP 11

Combine everything: P(X=9)=923781262144(34)109237812621440.05631350.198322 P(X=9) = 92378 \cdot \frac{1}{262144} \cdot \left(\frac{3}{4}\right)^{10} \approx 92378 \cdot \frac{1}{262144} \cdot 0.0563135 \approx 0.198322

STEP 12

a. The probability of Jaymes getting exactly 9 true/false questions correct is approximately **0.176261**. b. The probability of Jaymes getting exactly 9 multiple-choice questions correct is approximately **0.198322**.

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