Question

Of the last 100 customers entering a computer shop, 25 have purchased a computer. If the classical method for computing probability is used, the probability that the next customer will purchase a computer is
a. .75
b. 1.00
c. .25
d. .50

___ The answer is apparently .50 but i am not understanding why that is so, wouldn't it be .25? Or is it that there is a option for the customer to buy or not buy so it makes it 50% so 50/100? I'm not sure...

Answer 1

Answer:

Yes, the answer is 0.5.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question only try to trick you. The concept here is not the probability of picking from the sample of buying customers. It's simply testing your understanding about the sample space of the event.

By sample space, we mean the list of all possible outcome from a probability event. For this event, there is only two possibilities:

1. The customer buys a computer

2. The customer did not buy a computer.

That is,

Sample space = {buy, not buy}

The probability the next customer will buy or not buy is 50:50. This is because, every customer (whether buying or not buying) is treated a customer! So, next customer buy = 1/2 = 0.5. or not buying = 1/2 = 0.5.

Although, the odds of buying is 0.25!