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Probability and conditional probability SAT question

Math · Problem-Solving and Data Analysis · Easy · Answer it here, explanation included.

For a particular machine that produces beads, out of every beads it produces have a defect. A bead produced by the machine will be selected at random. What is the probability of selecting a bead that has a defect?

ExplanationShow

Choice C is correct. It’s given that out of every beads that the machine produces have a defect. It follows that if the machine produces beads, then the number of beads that have a defect is , for some constant . If a bead produced by the machine will be selected at random, the probability of selecting a bead that has a defect is given by the number of beads with a defect, , divided by the number of beads produced by the machine, . Therefore, the probability of selecting a bead that has a defect is , or .

Choice A is incorrect and may result from conceptual or computational errors.

Choice B is incorrect and may result from conceptual or computational errors.

Choice D is incorrect and may result from conceptual or computational errors.

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