Question

Difficulty: MediumTwo-Way Tables and Probability

A transit agency surveyed a sample of 160 commuters about their primary mode of transportation and whether they travel during peak commuting hours. The results are summarized in the table below.

Commute ModePeak HoursOff-Peak HoursTotal
Bus354580
Train552580
Total9070160

If a commuter who travels during peak hours is selected at random from those surveyed, what is the probability that the commuter's primary mode of transportation is the train?

  1. A
    1132\frac{11}{32}
  2. 1118\frac{11}{18}Answer
  3. C
    1116\frac{11}{16}
  4. D
    718\frac{7}{18}

Answer

The probability that the commuter's primary mode of transportation is the train, given they travel during peak hours, is 1118\frac{11}{18}.
The correct answer is 1118\frac{11}{18}. To find the probability that a selected commuter's primary mode of transportation is the train, given that they travel during peak hours, we must look only at the column representing peak-hour commuters. The total number of peak-hour commuters is 35+55=9035 + 55 = 90. Among these commuters, the number whose primary mode of transportation is the train is 5555. Therefore, the probability is 5590\frac{55}{90}, which simplifies to 1118\frac{11}{18}.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the total number of commuters who meet the condition of traveling during peak hours.
The total number of peak-hour commuters is 9090.
The question asks for the probability given that the commuter travels during peak hours, restricting our sample space to this column total.
2
Identify the number of commuters in the peak hours group whose primary mode of transportation is the train.
There are 5555 commuters who travel by train during peak hours.
This represents the favorable outcomes within our restricted sample space.
3
Calculate the conditional probability by dividing the number of favorable outcomes by the size of the restricted sample space.
5590=1118\frac{55}{90} = \frac{11}{18}
Probability is the ratio of favorable outcomes to the total possible outcomes under the given condition.

Key Concept

Conditional Probability from a Two-Way Table
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