16Hit1600
Problem-Solving and Data AnalysisHardConditional probability from a two-way table

Problem-Solving and Data Analysis practice question

Age | Owns a bicycle | Does not own a bicycle Under 30 | 40 | 20 30 or over | 25 | 35

If a person who owns a bicycle is chosen at random from those surveyed, what is the probability that the person is under 30?

  1. A. 8/13Correct
  2. B. 2/3
  3. C. 1/3
  4. D. 13/24

Answer: A. 8/13

The choice is made from bicycle OWNERS only: 40 + 25 = 65 people. Of those, 40 are under 30: 40/65 = 8/13.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. 2/3
2/3 is 40/60 — the fraction of UNDER-30s who own a bicycle, the reverse condition.
C. 1/3
1/3 is 40/120, dividing by everyone surveyed instead of by the bicycle owners.
D. 13/24
13/24 is 65/120, the probability that a random surveyed person owns a bicycle.

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