Instructor: Conrad Perez

Student: Jennifer Tofan

Course: Math 21 Online (52031) - Spring Assignment: 7.5
Date: 04/18/23
2023

The accompanying table gives a recent estimate​(in thousands) of the smoking status among persons 25 years of age and over and their
highest level of education in a certain state. Complete parts​(a) through​(e).
1
Click here to view the data table.

(a) Find the probability that a person is a current smoker.

n(E)
Recall that if an event E is a subset of a sample​space, S, then the probability that event E occurs is ​P(E) = .
n(S)

For​P(current smoker), determine the value of n(E).

n(E) = 43.67

Determine the value of​n(S).

n(S) = 195.69

Find the​probability, rounding to four decimal places.

n(E)
P(E) =
n(S)
43.67
P(current smoker) = Substitute for​n(E) and​n(S).
195.69
= 0.2232 Simplify.

(b) Find the probability that a person has less than a high school diploma.

n(E)
Use the formula for the probability of event​E, ​P(E) = .
n(S)

For​P(less than a high school​diploma), determine the value of​n(E).

n(E) = 26.35

Notice that​n(S) stays the same. Find the​probability, rounding to four decimal places.

n(E)
P(E) =
n(S)
26.35
P(less than a high school diploma) = Substitute for​n(E) and​n(S).
195.69
= 0.1347 Simplify.

(c) Find the probability that a person is a current smoker and has less than a high school diploma.

n(E)
Recall, that if an event E is a subset of a sample​space, S, then the probability that event E occurs is ​P(E) = .
n(S)

In this​case, let E represent​"current smoker" and F represent​"less than a high school​diploma," then this probability can be written as​P(E ∩ ​
F). Find the intersection of​"current smoker" and​"less than a high school​diploma," and use this value for​n(E ∩ ​F). The sample space remains
the same.

Find the​probability, rounding to four decimal places.

n(E ∩ F)
P(E ∩ F) =
n(S)
6.58
= Substitute for​n(E ∩ ​F) and​n(S).
195.69
= 0.0336 Simplify.

Therefore, the probability that a person is a current smoker and has less than a high school diploma is approximately 0.0336.
(d) Find the probability that a person is a current​smoker, given that the person has less than a high school diploma.

P(E ∩ F)
Recall that for events E and​F, the conditional probability is ​P(E|F) = ​, where P(F) ≠ 0. For equally likely​outcomes,
P(F)
n(E ∩ F)
P(E|F) = . Let E represent​"current smoker" and let F represent the​"less than a high school​diploma."
n(F)

Note that​n(E ∩ ​F) was determined to be 6.58. Also note that​n(F) was determined to be 26.35.

Find the​probability, rounding to four decimal places.

n(E ∩ F)
P(E|F) =
n(F)
6.58
= Substitute for​n(E ∩ ​F) and n(F).
26.35
= 0.2497 Simplify.

Therefore, the probability that a person is a current​smoker, given that the person has less than a high school diploma is 0.2497.

(e) Are the events​"current smoker" and​"less than a high school​diploma" independent​events?

Two events E and F are independent events if and only if​P(E ∩ ​F) = ​P(E) • ​P(F).

If E represents​"current smoker" and F represents​"less than a high school​diploma," then find ​P(E) • ​P(F), rounding to four decimal places.
Recall that ​P(E) = 0.2232 and ​P(F) = 0.1347.

P(E) • P(F) = 0.2232 • 0.1347

= 0.0301

Recall from part​(c) that​P(E ∩ ​F) = 0.0336. Since 0.0301 does not equal 0.0336​, ​P(E ∩ ​F) does not equal P(E) • P(F).

Therefore, the events​"current smoker" and​"less than a high school​diploma" are not independent events.

1: Data Table
Current Former
Education Smoker Smoker ​Non- Smoker Total
Less than a high
6.58 7.21 12.56 26.35
school diploma
High school diploma
16.23 12.55 26.37 55.15
or GED
Some college 14.14 15.02 28.09 57.25
Bachelor's degree or
6.72 12.33 37.89 56.94
higher
Total 43.67 47.11 104.91 195.69