2008 AMC 10B Problem 17

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Concepts:binomial probabilityindependent events

Difficulty rating: 1240

17.

A poll shows that 70%70\% of all voters approve of the mayor's work. On three separate occasions a pollster selects a voter at random. What is the probability that on exactly one of these three occasions the voter approves of the mayor's work?

0.0630.063

0.1890.189

0.2330.233

0.3330.333

0.4410.441

Solution:

Exactly one approval among three occasions arises in (31)=3\binom{3}{1}=3 ways, each with probability (0.7)(0.3)(0.3)=0.063.(0.7)(0.3)(0.3)=0.063.

The total is 30.063=0.189.3\cdot 0.063=0.189.

Thus, the correct answer is B.

Problem 17 in Other Years