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Ch. 3 - Probability
Larson - Elementary Statistics: Picturing the World 8th Edition
Larson8th EditionElementary Statistics: Picturing the WorldISBN: 9780137493470Not the one you use?Change textbook
Chapter 3, Problem 3.1.36

"Identifying Simple Events In Exercises 33-36, determine the number of outcomes in the event. Then decide whether the event is a simple event or not. Explain your reasoning.
36. You randomly select one card from a standard deck of 52 playing cards. Event B is selecting the ace of spades."

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1
Step 1: Understand the problem. A simple event is an event that consists of exactly one outcome. Here, Event B is selecting the ace of spades from a standard deck of 52 playing cards.
Step 2: Determine the total number of outcomes in the sample space. A standard deck of playing cards contains 52 cards, so the sample space has 52 possible outcomes.
Step 3: Identify the number of outcomes in Event B. Event B specifies selecting the ace of spades, which is a single card. Therefore, Event B consists of exactly one outcome.
Step 4: Decide whether Event B is a simple event. Since Event B consists of only one outcome (selecting the ace of spades), it qualifies as a simple event.
Step 5: Explain the reasoning. A simple event is defined as an event with exactly one outcome. Event B meets this criterion because it involves selecting only one specific card, the ace of spades, from the deck.

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Key Concepts

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

Simple Event

A simple event is an outcome or a combination of outcomes that cannot be broken down into simpler components. In probability, it refers to a single outcome from a sample space. For example, drawing one specific card from a deck, such as the ace of spades, is a simple event because it represents one distinct outcome.
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Sample Space

The sample space is the set of all possible outcomes of a random experiment. In the context of drawing a card from a standard deck, the sample space consists of 52 unique cards. Understanding the sample space is crucial for determining the total number of outcomes and for calculating probabilities associated with events.
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Counting Outcomes

Counting outcomes involves determining the number of possible results for a given event. In this case, selecting the ace of spades from a deck of cards has only one favorable outcome. This concept is essential for evaluating whether an event is simple and for calculating probabilities, as it helps quantify the likelihood of specific events occurring.
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