How to Find Probabilities using Two-Way Frequency Tables?

How to Find Probabilities using Two-Way Frequency Tables?

Finding Probabilities using Two-Way Frequency Tables Example 1:

Brown Blue Green Total
Male 50 17 9 76
Female 43 14 6 63
Total 93 31 15 139

a) \(\frac{number \ of students \ with \ green \ eyes}{number \ of \ students}=\frac{15}{139}\)

Tutor-style math help

Find Probabilities using Two-Way Frequency Tables: what to notice and how to work it

Probability skill
Probability compares favorable outcomes with possible outcomes. The rule changes when events are independent, dependent, mutually exclusive, or conditional.

What to notice first

Define the event before calculating. A clear sample space prevents most probability mistakes.

Common student mistake

Do not multiply probabilities until you know the events are independent or the second probability is conditional.

Key formulas and cues

\(P(A)=\frac{\text{favorable}}{\text{total}}\)
\(P(A\text{ and }B)=P(A)P(B)\text{ if independent}\)
\(P(A|B)=\frac{P(A\cap B)}{P(B)}\)
HTHHHTTHTT

A reliable path

  1. List outcomesName the possible results or count them carefully.
  2. Choose the ruleUse addition, multiplication, or conditional probability based on the wording.
  3. Check the rangeA probability must be between 0 and 1.

Worked examples

Simple probability

Example: Roll an even number on a fair die
  1. Even outcomes are 2, 4, and 6.
  2. There are 3 favorable outcomes out of 6.
  3. Reduce the fraction.
Answer: \(\frac12\)

Independent events

Example: Flip two heads in a row
  1. P(heads) = 1/2 for each flip.
  2. The flips are independent.
  3. Multiply 1/2 by 1/2.
Answer: \(\frac14\)
Try one before moving on
Try: A fair coin is flipped once. What is P(tails)?
Answer: \(\frac12\).
Next step: do the matching worksheet or quiz while the method is still fresh, then come back and explain the first step in your own words.

b) \(\frac{number \ of \ females}{number \ of \ students}=\frac{63}{139}\)

Finding Probabilities using Two-Way Frequency Tables Example 2:

Students were asked what their hair color was; the results are shown below. If a boy is selected at random, find the probability that the boy has brown hair.

Black hair brown hair Blond hair Total
Boys 32 13 3 48
Girls 26 16 9 51
Total 58 29 12 99

Solution: \(\frac{number \ of \ boys \ with \ brown \ hair}{number \ of \ students}=\frac{13}{99}\)

Exercises for Finding Probabilities using Two-Way Frequency Tables

Solve all the problems.

1) The two-way table shows the distribution of members of the audience at a play.

Circle Balcony Stalls Total
Children 32 64
Adults 20 13
Total 50 35 30 115

a) Complete the two-way tables.

b) What is the probability that a randomly chosen audience member is a child and is seated in the circle?

c) What is the probability that a randomly chosen audience member is a child?

Original price was: $109.99.Current price is: $54.99.

2) The following table represents the data collected from 120 conference attendees of different nationalities:

Arabic
Speaker
English Speaker French Speaker Total
Man 43
Woman 15 12 44
Total 35 60 25 120

a) Complete the two-way tables.

b) Find the probability that a randomly selected participant is an English-speaking woman.

1)

Circle Balcony Stalls Total
Children 32 \(\color{blue}{15}\) \(\color{blue}{17}\) 64
Adults \(\color{blue}{18}\) 20 13 \(\color{blue}{51}\)
Total 50 35 30 115

b) Probability: \(\frac{32}{115}\)

c) Probability: \(\frac{64}{115}\)

2)

Arabic
Speaker
English Speaker French Speaker Total
Man \(\color{blue}{20}\) 43 \(\color{blue}{13}\) \(\color{blue}{76}\)
Woman 15 \(\color{blue}{17}\) 12 44
Total 35 60 25 120

b) Probability: \(\frac{17}{120}\)

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