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Ch. 8 - Sequences, Induction, and Probability
Blitzer - College Algebra 8th Edition
Blitzer8th EditionCollege AlgebraISBN: 9780136970514Not the one you use?Change textbook
All textbooksBlitzer 8th EditionCh. 8 - Sequences, Induction, and ProbabilityProblem 45
Chapter 9, Problem 45

In Exercises 45-46, it is equally probable that the pointer on the spinner shown will land on any one of the eight regions, numbered 1 through 8. If the pointer lands on a borderline, spin again. Find the probability that the pointer will stop on an odd number or a number less than 6.
A spinner divided into eight colored sections numbered 1 to 8, with an arrow pointing to section 2.

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1
Identify the total number of equally likely outcomes on the spinner. Since the spinner is divided into 8 regions numbered 1 through 8, the total number of outcomes is 8.
Determine the set of outcomes that satisfy the condition 'odd number.' The odd numbers between 1 and 8 are 1, 3, 5, and 7.
Determine the set of outcomes that satisfy the condition 'number less than 6.' These numbers are 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.
Find the union of the two sets (odd numbers or numbers less than 6). This means combining all unique numbers from both sets: {1, 3, 5, 7} ∪ {1, 2, 3, 4, 5}.
Calculate the probability by dividing the number of favorable outcomes (the size of the union set) by the total number of outcomes (8). The formula is \(\text{Probability} = \frac{\text{Number of favorable outcomes}}{8}\).

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Basic Probability

Probability measures the likelihood of an event occurring, calculated as the ratio of favorable outcomes to total possible outcomes. In this problem, each of the eight spinner sections is equally likely, so the probability of landing on any section is 1/8.
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Union of Events

When finding the probability of either one event or another occurring, use the formula P(A or B) = P(A) + P(B) - P(A and B). This accounts for overlap between events, ensuring outcomes common to both are not counted twice.
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Complementary Events

Set Operations and Counting

Identifying the favorable outcomes involves understanding sets: odd numbers {1,3,5,7} and numbers less than 6 {1,2,3,4,5}. Counting elements in these sets and their intersection helps determine the total favorable outcomes for the probability calculation.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question

Express each repeating decimal as a fraction in lowest terms. 0.5‾=510+5100+51000+510,000+⋯0.\(\overline{5}\)=\(\frac{5}{10}\)+\(\frac{5}{100}\)+\(\frac{5}{1000}\)+\(\frac{5}{10,000}\)+\(\cdots\)

Textbook Question

Write out the first three terms and the last term. Then use the formula for the sum of the first n terms of an arithmetic sequence to find the indicated sum.

∑i=117(5i+3)\(\sum\)_{i=1}^{17} (5i + 3)

Textbook Question

Write out the first three terms and the last term. Then use the formula for the sum of the first n terms of an arithmetic sequence to find the indicated sum.

∑i=130(−3i+5)\(\sum\)_{i=1}^{30} (-3i + 5)

Textbook Question

Find the term indicated in each expansion. (x − 1/2)9; fourth term

Textbook Question

Express each sum using summation notation. Use 11 as the lower limit of summation and ii for the index of summation. 2+22+23+⋯+2112+2^2+2^3+\(\cdots\)+2^{11}

Textbook Question

Find the sum of the odd integers between 30 and 54.