Math  /  Data & Statistics

QuestionTime left 0.0627
A multiple-choice test contains 24 questions, each with five answers. Assume a student just guesses on each question. what is the probability the student answers less than Four questions correctly? (Answer to the nearest three decimals 0.000).
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Studdy Solution

STEP 1

What is this asking? If a student randomly guesses on a 24-question multiple-choice test with five options for each question, what's the chance they get *fewer* than four questions right? Watch out! "Less than four" means *three or fewer*, not including four!
Also, remember each guess is independent.

STEP 2

1. Define the Binomial Probability
2. Calculate P(X=0)
3. Calculate P(X=1)
4. Calculate P(X=2)
5. Calculate P(X=3)
6. Sum the Probabilities

STEP 3

We're dealing with a **binomial distribution** here!
This is because each question is a separate *trial* with only two outcomes: right or wrong.
The probability of guessing correctly on any single question is p=15=0.2p = \frac{1}{5} = 0.2, since there are five choices.
The probability of guessing *incorrectly* is 1p=10.2=0.81 - p = 1 - 0.2 = 0.8.
We want to find the probability of getting *less* than four questions correct, which means 0, 1, 2, or 3 correct.

STEP 4

The **binomial probability formula** is given by: P(X=k)=(nk)pk(1p)nkP(X=k) = \binom{n}{k} \cdot p^k \cdot (1-p)^{n-k} Where nn is the **number of trials** (24 questions), kk is the **number of successes** (correct answers), and pp is the **probability of success** on a single trial (0.2). (nk)\binom{n}{k} is the **binomial coefficient**, calculated as n!k!(nk)!\frac{n!}{k!(n-k)!}.
It represents the number of ways to choose kk successes from nn trials.

STEP 5

Let's start with zero correct answers (k=0k=0): P(X=0)=(240)(0.2)0(0.8)240=11(0.8)240.0047P(X=0) = \binom{24}{0} \cdot (0.2)^0 \cdot (0.8)^{24-0} = 1 \cdot 1 \cdot (0.8)^{24} \approx \mathbf{0.0047}

STEP 6

Now, let's find the probability of getting exactly one question right (k=1k=1): P(X=1)=(241)(0.2)1(0.8)241=240.2(0.8)230.0274P(X=1) = \binom{24}{1} \cdot (0.2)^1 \cdot (0.8)^{24-1} = 24 \cdot 0.2 \cdot (0.8)^{23} \approx \mathbf{0.0274}

STEP 7

Next, the probability of getting exactly two questions right (k=2k=2): P(X=2)=(242)(0.2)2(0.8)242=2760.04(0.8)220.0755P(X=2) = \binom{24}{2} \cdot (0.2)^2 \cdot (0.8)^{24-2} = 276 \cdot 0.04 \cdot (0.8)^{22} \approx \mathbf{0.0755}

STEP 8

Finally, the probability of getting exactly three questions right (k=3k=3): P(X=3)=(243)(0.2)3(0.8)243=20240.008(0.8)210.1367P(X=3) = \binom{24}{3} \cdot (0.2)^3 \cdot (0.8)^{24-3} = 2024 \cdot 0.008 \cdot (0.8)^{21} \approx \mathbf{0.1367}

STEP 9

To find the probability of getting *less* than four correct, we **add** the probabilities of getting 0, 1, 2, or 3 correct: P(X<4)=P(X=0)+P(X=1)+P(X=2)+P(X=3)P(X<4) = P(X=0) + P(X=1) + P(X=2) + P(X=3) P(X<4)0.0047+0.0274+0.0755+0.13670.2443P(X<4) \approx 0.0047 + 0.0274 + 0.0755 + 0.1367 \approx \mathbf{0.2443}

STEP 10

The probability of answering fewer than four questions correctly is approximately 0.244\mathbf{0.244}.

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