52206910
A survey of \(400\) students at a school serving grades \(6\) through \(12\) recorded whether students regularly ride a bicycle to school.
<table> <tr><td></td><td>Regular bicycle use</td><td>No regular bicycle use</td><td>Total</td></tr> <tr><td>Grades \(6\)–\(8\)</td><td>\(144\)</td><td>\(96\)</td><td>\(240\)</td></tr> <tr><td>Grades \(9\)–\(12\)</td><td>\(64\)</td><td>\(96\)</td><td>\(160\)</td></tr> <tr><td>Total</td><td>\(208\)</td><td>\(192\)</td><td>\(400\)</td></tr> </table>
a) Find the probability that a randomly selected surveyed student regularly rides a bicycle to school.
b) Now consider only students in grades \(9\)–\(12\). Find the probability that a randomly selected student from this group regularly rides a bicycle to school. Compare it with the result from part a.
Hints
- Identify the total number of surveyed students.
- In part b, identify the size of the restricted grade group.
- Use the table cell representing both the grade group and regular bicycle use.
Solution
1. The overall probability of regular bicycle use is \(P(B)=\frac{208}{400}=0.52\).
2. Among students in grades \(9\)–\(12\), \(64\) of \(160\) regularly ride a bicycle, so \(P(B\mid H)=\frac{64}{160}=0.40\).
3. The conditional rate of \(40\%\) for grades \(9\)–\(12\) is lower than the overall rate of \(52\%\).
Answer
a) \(0.52\), or \(52\%\).
b) \(0.40\), or \(40\%\). This is lower than the overall rate.
