/*! This file is auto-generated */ .wp-block-button__link{color:#fff;background-color:#32373c;border-radius:9999px;box-shadow:none;text-decoration:none;padding:calc(.667em + 2px) calc(1.333em + 2px);font-size:1.125em}.wp-block-file__button{background:#32373c;color:#fff;text-decoration:none} Problem 15 Simulation blunders Explain what... [FREE SOLUTION] | 91Ó°ÊÓ

91Ó°ÊÓ

Simulation blunders Explain what's wrong with each of the following simulation designs. (a) A roulette wheel has 38 colored slots -18 red, 18 black, and 2 green. To simulate one spin of the wheel, let numbers 00 to 18 represent red, 19 to 37 represent black, and 38 to 40 represent green. (b) About \(10 \%\) of U.S. adults are left-handed. To simulate randomly selecting one adult at a time until you find a left-hander, use two digits. Let 00 to 09 represent being left-handed and 10 to 99 represent being right- handed. Move across a row in Table \(D\), two digits at a time, skipping any numbers that have already appeared, until you find a number between 00 and \(09 .\) Record the number of people selected.

Short Answer

Expert verified
Both simulations assign incorrect probabilities; adjusting the numbers can fix this.

Step by step solution

01

Analyze the Roulette Wheel Simulation

The roulette wheel is supposed to have outcomes based on 38 slots: 18 red, 18 black, and 2 green. The proposed simulation assigns numbers 00 to 18 for red, covering 19 slots; 19 to 37 for black, covering 19 slots; and 38 to 40 for green, which covers 3 slots. This assignment results in an incorrect likelihood for each color, as it does not match the actual distribution of the roulette wheel's slots.
02

Correct the Roulette Wheel Simulation

To correctly simulate one spin of the wheel, you should allocate numbers proportionate to the 18 red, 18 black, and 2 green slots. For example, assign numbers 00 to 17 for red, 18 to 35 for black, and 36 to 37 for green. This ensures accurate representation of probabilities.
03

Analyze the Left-Handed Simulation

In the simulation for randomly selecting left-handed individuals, the use of two-digit numbers where 00 to 09 signify being left-handed represents 10 out of 100 possible outcomes, correctly reflecting the 10% likelihood of a person being left-handed. However, the instructions to skip numbers already shown may eliminate valid sequences and distort the outcome.
04

Correct the Left-Handed Simulation

A more straightforward approach would skip duplicates within a simulation iteration but not eliminate valid outcomes. Each number could represent an individual such that multiple valid entries should not be ignored. This ensures that each random pick remains independently representative of a possible adult being left or right-handed.

Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!

  • Full Textbook Solutions

    Get detailed explanations and key concepts

  • Unlimited Al creation

    Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...

  • Ads-free access

    To over 500 millions flashcards

  • Money-back guarantee

    We refund you if you fail your exam.

Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with 91Ó°ÊÓ!

Key Concepts

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

Probability
Probability is a fundamental concept in statistics used to measure the likelihood that a certain event will occur. In simple terms, it's about predicting the chances of something happening. For example, when you're flipping a fair coin, the probability of landing on heads or tails is 50%. It is expressed as a number between 0 and 1, where 0 means the event cannot happen, and 1 means it will happen for sure.

To apply probabilities correctly in simulations, like the roulette wheel from our scenario, it's crucial to match the probabilities to the real-world proportion. In roulette, there are 18 red, 18 black, and 2 green slots on the wheel, making the probability for each slot color different. Hence, accurately assigning numbers to simulate these probabilities is key to a valid model.

Calculating probability requires understanding the total number of outcomes and the number of desired outcomes. Using it effectively can help predict trends, make decisions, and evaluate risks in various fields.
Random Selection
Random selection is the process of choosing items in such a way that every item has an equal chance of being chosen. It is used to ensure fairness and avoid bias in decision-making and simulations.

Imagine you're picking a number from a hat. If the hat contains numbers 1 to 100, each number should have an equal chance of being drawn. In the given left-handed simulation, the goal is to replicate the random nature of selecting someone from a population where 10% are left-handed.
  • Ensure every potential selection reflects the real-world distribution, like using digits 00-09 to represent left-handed individuals.
  • Random selection should not skip valid digits during simulations, as this can skew results.
The idea is to provide each number or individual an independent shot at being picked, maintaining the true randomness without any preconceived bias.
Roulette Wheel
A roulette wheel simulation is a common example used to explore probabilities. The typical American roulette wheel contains 38 slots: 18 red, 18 black, and 2 green, creating varying probabilities for landing on a specific color during a spin.

Simulation design for the roulette wheel involves assigning numbers in a way that mirrors these real-world probabilities. Initially, the incorrect distribution was 00-18 red, 19-37 black, and 38-40 green. This setup misguidedly enlarged the likelihood for each color.
  • Correct method: Identify the exact number of slots per color.
  • Assign numbers based on the actual proportions: 00-17 for red, 18-35 for black, 36-37 for green.
An accurate simulation is crucial because it reflects true odds, allowing for realistic prediction and analysis. Hence, understanding how the wheel inherently functions and making adjustments to the random number allocations are essential.
Statistical Errors
Statistical errors occur when there is a deviation from true results due to the improper design of a simulation or sampling process. In our scenarios, these errors could arise from wrongful assignments of probabilities or skewed selections.

Common types of errors:
  • Sampling errors: Occur when a sample does not represent the population, potentially leading to incorrect conclusions.
  • Measurement errors: Happen when data collection practices do not accurately measure variables or outcomes.
In the roulette simulation, numbers were incorrectly allocated, originating a sampling error. The left-handed simulation risked producing biased results by skipping valid numbers in sequence selection.

Adjusting simulations to reflect precise probabilities and allow for independent, unbiased selection helps reduce statistical errors. This ensures a more reliable and valid representation of reality, giving better insights and understanding from statistical models.

One App. One Place for Learning.

All the tools & learning materials you need for study success - in one app.

Get started for free

Most popular questions from this chapter

An athlete suspected of using steroids is given two tests that operate independently of each other. Test A has probability 0.9 of being positive if steroids have been used. Test \(\mathrm{B}\) has probability 0.8 of being positive if steroids have been used. What is the probability that neither test is positive if steroids have been used? (a) 0.72 (b) 0.38 (c) 0.02 (d) 0.28 (e) 0.08

Role-playing games Computer games in which the players take the roles of characters are very popular. They go back to earlier tabletop games such as Dungeons \(\&\) Dragons. These games use many different types of dice. A four- sided die has faces with \(1,2,3,\) and 4 spots. (a) List the sample space for rolling the die twice (spots showing on first and second rolls). (b) What is the assignment of probabilities to outcomes in this sample space? Assume that the die is perfectly balanced.

Lactose intolerance Lactose intolerance causes difficulty in digesting dairy products that contain lactose (milk sugar). It is particularly common among people of African and Asian ancestry. In the United States (ignoring other groups and people who consider themselves to belong to more than one race), \(82 \%\) of the population is white, \(14 \%\) is black, and \(4 \%\) is Asian. Moreover, \(15 \%\) of whites, \(70 \%\) of blacks, and \(90 \%\) of Asians are lactose intolerant. \({ }^{19}\) Suppose we select a U.S. person at random. (a) What is the probability that the person is lactose intolerant? Show your work. (b) Given that the person is lactose intolerant, find the probability that he or she is Asian. Show your work.

Color-blind men About \(7 \%\) of men in the United States have some form of red-green color blindness. Suppose we randomly select 4 U.S. adult males. What's the probability that at least one of them is red-green color-blind? Design and carry out a simulation to answer this question. Follow the four- step process.

Free throws A basketball player has probability 0.75 of making a free throw. Explain how you would use each chance device to simulate one free throw by the player. (a) A standard deck of playing cards (b) Table D of random digits (c) A calculator or computer's random integer generator

See all solutions

Recommended explanations on Math Textbooks

View all explanations

What do you think about this solution?

We value your feedback to improve our textbook solutions.

Study anywhere. Anytime. Across all devices.