SOLUTION: 2.2 Roulette Wheel. The game of roulette involves spinning a wheel with 38 slots: 18 red, 18 black, and 2 green. A ball is spun onto the wheel and will eventually land in a slot, w
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-> SOLUTION: 2.2 Roulette Wheel. The game of roulette involves spinning a wheel with 38 slots: 18 red, 18 black, and 2 green. A ball is spun onto the wheel and will eventually land in a slot, w
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Question 1113469: 2.2 Roulette Wheel. The game of roulette involves spinning a wheel with 38 slots: 18 red, 18 black, and 2 green. A ball is spun onto the wheel and will eventually land in a slot, where each slot has an equal chance of capturing the ball.
(a) You watch a roulette wheel spin 3 consecutive times and the ball lands on a red slot each time. What is the probability that the ball will land on a red slot on the next spin?
(b) You watch a roulette wheel spin 300 consecutive times and the ball lands on a red slot each time. What is the probability that the ball will land on a red slot on the next spin?
(c) Are you equally confident of your answers to the parts (a) and (b)? Why or why not? Answer by greenestamps(13200) (Show Source):
The wording of the problem indicates that it is a fair roulette wheel, so the probability of landing on a red spot on each spin is 16/38 = 8/19. That probability is the same, regardless of the outcomes on previous spins.
So the answers are
(a) 8/19
(b) 8/19
(c) Yes, as explained above
