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#1 2006-11-28 05:34:54

ketildre
Member
Registered: 2006-11-27
Posts: 2

Basketball

The probability of a basketballplayer scoring at least 1 goal in 6 shots is 0,999936

a) What is the probability function of X
b) What is the probability for scoring (propability function for number of goals)
c) What is the probability for scoring at least 3 times

This is as far as I get:
Probability of scoring 0 goals= 1-0,999936=0,000064

any clue?

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#2 2006-11-28 05:58:12

Ricky
Moderator
Registered: 2005-12-04
Posts: 3,791

Re: Basketball

Do you know of the binomial probability distribution?  If you do, use it.  If you don't, then I'm fairly clueless myself.


"In the real world, this would be a problem.  But in mathematics, we can just define a place where this problem doesn't exist.  So we'll go ahead and do that now..."

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#3 2006-11-28 06:08:11

pi man
Member
Registered: 2006-07-06
Posts: 251

Re: Basketball

The probability of scoring 0 goals out of 6 shots = .000064.   The probability of missing 6 shots in a row is equal to the probability of missing one shot raised to the 6th power.   So in this case, the probability of missing a shot is .2 and the probability of making it is 98.8.    I want him on my team!

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#4 2006-11-28 06:42:25

mathsyperson
Moderator
Registered: 2005-06-22
Posts: 4,900

Re: Basketball

Correct except for the last bit. The probability is given as a number, not a percentage, so the probability of him making the shot is 0.8.


Why did the vector cross the road?
It wanted to be normal.

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#5 2006-11-28 08:47:56

pi man
Member
Registered: 2006-07-06
Posts: 251

Re: Basketball

You're right, Mathsyperson.   Even at 80% (.8), I still want him on my team!

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