SOLUTION: During a half hour of television programming, eight minutes is used for commercials. If a television set is turned on at a random time during the half hour, what is the probability

Algebra ->  Probability-and-statistics -> SOLUTION: During a half hour of television programming, eight minutes is used for commercials. If a television set is turned on at a random time during the half hour, what is the probability      Log On


   

Question 1179656: During a half hour of television programming, eight minutes is used for commercials. If a television set is turned on at a random time during the half hour, what is the probability that a commercial is not being shown?
Found 2 solutions by ewatrrr, greenestamps:
Answer by ewatrrr(24785) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!

Hi
Poisson Distribution: 8 minutes is used for commercials.
p%28x%29+=+%28mu%5Ex%2Fx%21%29%2Ae%5E%28-mu%29
p%280%29+=+%288%5E0%2F0%21%29%2Ae%5E%28-8%29 = .0003
0r 
Using TI or similarly an inexpensive calculator like an Casio fx-115 ES plus
P(x=0) = poissonpdf(0,8) = .0003
Wish You the Best in your Studies.


Answer by greenestamps(13200) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!


I don't read this problem as having anything to do with Poisson distributions....

And the answer the other tutor gets using Poisson distributions is nonsensical

During each 30-minute period, commercials are being shown for 8 minutes, so they are not being shown for 22 of the 30 minutes.

So the probability that a commercial is not being shown when the set is turned on at a random time is 22/30 = 0.733 to a few decimal places.