The experimental probability that Kristen will hit the ball when she is at bat is #3/5#. If she is at bat 80 times in a season, how many times can Kristen expect to hit the ball?

2 Answers
Feb 16, 2018

48 times

Explanation:

Number of times she is expected to hit the ball

# = P times "Total times she bat"#

# = 3/5 times 80#

# = 3/cancel5 times cancel80^16#

# = 3 times 16#

# = 48 # times

Feb 16, 2018

#48 " times"#

Explanation:

#"We can just do "(3/5)*80 = 48". If you want a proof then"#
#"read further here underneath."#

#P["Kristen hits k times on 80"] = C(80,k) (3/5)^k (2/5)^(80-k)#
#"with "C(n,k) = (n!)/((n-k)!*(k!)) " (combinations)"#
#"(binomial distribution)"#

#"Expected value = average = E[k] :"#

#sum_{k=0}^{k=80} k*C(80,k) (3/5)^k (2/5)^(80-k)#
#= sum_{k=1}^{k=80} 80*(79!)/((80-k)! (k-1)!) (3/5)^k (2/5)^(80-k)#
#= 80*(3/5) sum_{k=1}^{k=80}C(79,k-1) (3/5)^(k-1) (2/5)^(80-k)#
#= 80*(3/5) sum_{t=0}^{t=79} C(79,t) (3/5)^t (2/5)^(79-t)#
#"(with "t=k-1")"#
#= 80*(3/5)*1#
#= 48#

#"So for a binomial experiment, with "n" tries, and probability"#
#p" for the chance of success on a single try, we have in general"#
#"expected value=average= "n*p" (of the number of successes)"#