Part A: We need to develop a probability model based on the given information (100 people bought gum balls, 45 red, 40 blue, 15 yellow). We also need to compare the probability of getting a red gum ball to the probability of getting a yellow gum ball. Part B: Given that the next 10 people got 7 yellow, 1 red, and 2 blue, we need to explain a possible reason for this outcome given the probabilities from the original 100 people.
2025/3/26
1. Problem Description
Part A: We need to develop a probability model based on the given information (100 people bought gum balls, 45 red, 40 blue, 15 yellow). We also need to compare the probability of getting a red gum ball to the probability of getting a yellow gum ball.
Part B: Given that the next 10 people got 7 yellow, 1 red, and 2 blue, we need to explain a possible reason for this outcome given the probabilities from the original 100 people.
2. Solution Steps
Part A:
First, we need to determine the probabilities of getting each color of gum ball. The total number of people is
1
0
0. The probability of getting a red gum ball, $P(Red)$, is the number of red gum balls divided by the total number of gum balls purchased:
The probability of getting a blue gum ball, , is:
The probability of getting a yellow gum ball, , is:
To compare the probability of getting a red gum ball to the probability of getting a yellow gum ball, we can express the ratio of these probabilities:
This means the probability of getting a red gum ball is 3 times higher than the probability of getting a yellow gum ball.
Part B:
The probabilities from the first 100 people are: , , and .
The next 10 people got 7 yellow, 1 red, and 2 blue. This outcome deviates significantly from the initial probabilities. A possible reason for this is that the gum ball machine was not well-mixed, and the yellow gum balls were clustered in one section. Therefore, a small sample of 10 people may have gotten more yellow balls than expected based on the initial distribution. Another possible reason is that the supplier refilled the machine with a different proportion of colors compared to the initial fill.
3. Final Answer
Part A:
The probability model is: , , . The probability of getting a red gum ball is 3 times the probability of getting a yellow gum ball.
Part B:
A possible reason for this outcome is that the gum balls in the machine were not well mixed, leading to a disproportionate number of yellow gum balls being dispensed to the next few people. Another possible reason is that the gum ball machine was refilled with a batch that has a much larger proportion of yellow gum balls.