EXAMPLE 28 Multiplication rule for n independent events
According to the National Health Interview Survey, 24% of Americans ages 18–44 smoke tobacco. In a random sample of n=3 Americans ages 18–44, find the probability that all three smoke.
Solution
The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that over 100 million Americans are ages 18–44. We will shortly see that, because the sample of 3 is so small compared to the population of over 100 million, it is reasonable to assume that the successive draws are independent. Let Si denote the event that the ith American in the 18–44 age group smokes.
P(S1)=P(S2)=P(S3)=0.24
Then, using the Multiplication Rule for n Independent Events,
P(S1 and S2 and S3)=P(S1)·P(S2)·P(S3)=(0.24)(0.24)(0.24)=(0.24)3=0.013824
NOW YOU CAN DO
Exercises 93–100.