SOLUTION: Which are likely to be independent events? For those you think are not, suggest reason why. a. Gender of two consecutive babies born in a hospital. b. Car accident rates and the

Two events are independent if the knowledge that 
one has occurred does not make the occurrence of 
the other either more likely or less likely.  

First we'll look at c:

>>...Phone call arrival rates at a university admissions 
office and time of day...<<

The probability of a phone call changes if we are given 
that the time is 6AM. So they are NOT independent.

Now we'll look at b:

>>...Car accident rates and the driver’s gender...<<

The probability of an accident changes if we are given 
that the driver is a young male.  So they are NOT 
independent.


>>...Gender of two consecutive babies born in a hospital...<<

The probability that the second baby is a boy DOES NOT change 
if we are given that the first baby is a girl.  It also does
not change if we are given that the first baby is a boy.

So they ARE independent.  The correct choice is a.

Edwin