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On average, 30 -minute television sitcoms have 22 minutes of programming (CNBC, February 23,2006 ). Assume that the probability distribution for minutes of programming can be approximated by a uniform distribution from 18 minutes to 26 minutes. a. What is the probability a sitcom will have 25 or more minutes of programming? b. What is the probability a sitcom will have between 21 and 25 minutes of programming? c. What is the probability a sitcom will have more than 10 minutes of commercials or other nonprogramming interruptions?

Short Answer

Expert verified
a) 0.125, b) 0.5, c) 0.25.

Step by step solution

01

Understanding the Uniform Distribution

The problem states that the minutes of programming follow a uniform distribution between 18 and 26 minutes. A uniform distribution means every minute between 18 and 26 is equally likely. The probability density function (PDF) has a constant value between these numbers.
02

Calculating Probability for 25 or More Minutes of Programming (a)

To find the probability that the programming is 25 or more minutes, we calculate the area from 25 to 26. For a uniform distribution, probability is proportional to the interval length. Thus, the probability from 25 to 26 minutes is:\[ P(X \geq 25) = \frac{26 - 25}{26 - 18} = \frac{1}{8} = 0.125 \]
03

Finding Probability for 21 to 25 Minutes of Programming (b)

Here, we seek the probability that programming lasts between 21 and 25 minutes. The length of this interval is 4 minutes. Thus, the probability is:\[ P(21 \leq X \leq 25) = \frac{25 - 21}{26 - 18} = \frac{4}{8} = 0.5 \]
04

Calculating Probability for More than 10 Minutes of Commercials (c)

Since the sitcom is 30 minutes long and commercials or interruptions are the remainder, programming less than 20 minutes means interruptions exceed 10 minutes. Therefore, find the probability that programming is less than 20 minutes:\[ P(X < 20) = \frac{20 - 18}{26 - 18} = \frac{2}{8} = 0.25 \]

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

Probability Calculation
In order to calculate probabilities in a uniform distribution, you need to understand a few key points.
  • The first point is that, for a uniform distribution, the probability is evenly spread out across the entire interval.
  • This means that every outcome within the given range has the same likelihood of occurring.
To calculate a specific probability, you basically divide the length of the interval you're interested in by the total length of the distribution.
For example, if you want to find the probability of a television sitcom having more than 25 minutes of programming, you examine the fraction of the time it could have beyond 25 minutes compared to the whole possible range, which was from 18 to 26 minutes in this case.
Here's the formula used: \[P(X ext{ greater or equal to } 25) = \frac{26 - 25}{26 - 18} = 0.125\]This shows how probabilities are calculated using the given range values, making it straightforward to obtain the desired probabilities.
Statistical Concepts
Statistical concepts are vital for understanding probability and distribution.
  • A common concept here is the interval, which is a continuous range of values where outcomes are possible.
  • The uniform distribution, specifically, implies that within a set range, every possible outcome is equally likely.
In this scenario, it means every minute: whether 18, 19, 20, all the way up to 26, holds the same probability of happening.
This uniformity helps in making estimations such as predicting how likely an event in our preferred range will occur.
Understanding the subdivision of these ranges and calculating their respective probabilities directly relates to interpreting our scenarios efficiently and effectively.
This involves incorporating elements such as mean and interval length, enhancing our ability to derive accurate probabilities for questions about time or other measurable factors.
Probability Distribution
A probability distribution describes how the probabilities of possible outcomes are distributed over a certain interval.
  • In the context of the uniform distribution, the probability distribution is flat, or even, meaning the event or outcome can occur in any part of the specified range with the same frequency.
  • This applies to our sitcom example, where the episode's programming time could consistently fall anywhere between 18 and 26 minutes.
When evaluating a probability distribution for questions like these:
  • First, you're determining the range of possible outcomes (i.e., from 18 to 26 minutes).
  • Then, you're applying your findings to practical queries: like how much programming goes over or under certain thresholds.
The graphical representation of such a distribution would be a rectangle, because each part of the timeline is equally likely, making analyses like these straightforward once you identify your range and the respective proportion of interest.

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