SOLUTION: can someone please help me with this problem: In a certain animal species, the probability that a female will have 0,1,2,3 or 4 offspring in a given year is .31, .21, .19, .17,

Algebra ->  Probability-and-statistics -> SOLUTION: can someone please help me with this problem: In a certain animal species, the probability that a female will have 0,1,2,3 or 4 offspring in a given year is .31, .21, .19, .17,       Log On


   

Question 162962: can someone please help me with this problem:
In a certain animal species, the probability that a female will have 0,1,2,3 or 4 offspring in a given year is .31, .21, .19, .17, and .12 respectively. Find the expected number of offspring
a. 1.38
b. 1.58
c. 1.75
d. 2
Answer by jim_thompson5910(35256) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Expected Value = Sum of values * probabilities associated to each value


So in this case,


Expected Value = 0*.31+1*.21+2*.19+3*.17+4*.12 = 1.58


So the expected number of offspring is 1.58 which means that the answer is B