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Probability problems may involve interpreting statistical data.
Example :
40 students were given a test. The table below shows the cumulative frequency of the results obtained.
Mark |
10 |
20 |
30 |
40 |
50 |
60 |
70 |
80 |
90 |
100 |
Number of students scoring the mark or less |
2 |
5 |
8 |
11 |
18 |
24 |
30 |
32 |
37 |
40 |
a) State the probability that a student chosen at random will have a mark less than or equal to 60.
b) Two students are chosen at random from the 40 students. Find the probability that neither have marks more than 60.
c) A second group of students were tested and one-fifth of them scored more than 70 marks. If a student is now chosen at random from each group, find the probability that just one student would have scored more than 70
Solution:
a) From the table, we see that there were 24 students who scored 60 marks or less. Therefore, the probability of selecting a student with 60 marks or less
b) Neither have marks more than 60 means that both have marks less than or equal to 60.

c) From the table, we can work out that there are 40 – 30 = 10 students with greater than 70 marks. Therefore, the probability of selecting a student in the first with greater than 70 marks 
Probability that just one student would have scored more than 70 is

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