Question 1138983
<b>a.) What is the probability that the monkey will get less than 75% on the quiz?</b>
<pr>
75% of 15 correct answers is 11.25 answers.  Therefore, we are being asked what the probability is that the monkey gets 11 or fewer correct answers.  The easiest way to do this is to figure out the probability the monkey gets 12 or more correct answers, then subtract this result from 1.
<pr>
Probability of exactly 15 correct answers: {{{0.5^15}}} = 0.00003
Probability of exactly 14 correct answers: {{{(0.5^14)*(0.5^1)*(15!/(14!*1!))}}} = 0.00046
Probability of exactly 13 correct answers: {{{(0.5^13)*(0.5^2)*(15!/(13!*2!))}}} = 0.00320
Probability of exactly 12 correct answers: {{{(0.5^12)*(0.5^3)*(15!/(12!*3!))}}} = 0.01389
<pr>
Probability of 12 or more correct answers: 0.00003 + 0.00046 + 0.00320 + 0.01389 = 0.01758
<pr>
Probability of 11 or fewer correct answers: 1 - 0.01758 = 0.98242. (Rounded off to four decimals, the answer is 0.9824.)
<pr>
<b>b.) Which situation (situation 1 or 2) has the higher probability of occurring, situation 1: the monkey either gets 3,6, or 8 correct answers or situation 2: the monkey either gets 5,6, or 9 correct answers.</b>
<pr>
Situation 1:
Probability of exactly 3 correct answers: {{{(0.5^3)*(0.5^12)*(15!/(3!*12!))}}} = 0.01389
Probability of exactly 6 correct answers: {{{(0.5^6)*(0.5^9)*(15!/(6!*9!))}}} = 0.15274
Probability of exactly 8 correct answers: {{{(0.5^8)*(0.5^7)*(15!/(8!*7!))}}} = 0.19638
<pr>
Probability of either 3, 6, or 8 correct answers: 0.01389 + 0.15274 + 0.19638 = 0.36301
<pr>
Situation 2:
Probability of exactly 5 correct answers: {{{(0.5^5)*(0.5^10)*(15!/(5!*10!))}}} = 0.09164
Probability of exactly 6 correct answers: {{{(0.5^6)*(0.5^9)*(15!/(6!*9!))}}} = 0.15274
Probability of exactly 9 correct answers: {{{(0.5^9)*(0.5^6)*(15!/(9!*6!))}}} = 0.15274
<pr>
Probability of either 5, 6, or 9 correct answers: 0.09164 + 0.15274 + 0.15274 = 0.39712
<pr>
Situation 2 has the higher probability of occurring.