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Hi All,

While this question is presented as a Probability question, it's really more of a Weighted Average question. You can approach the "math" part of it in a number of different ways (ratios, fractions, percents, decimals, etc.). Here's an approach that uses decimals.

We're given a number of facts to work with:
1) Factory X's bulbs last over 5000 hours in 99% of cases.
2) Factory Y's bulbs last over 5000 hours in 95% of cases.
3) 60% of the bulbs supplied come from Factory X.

We're asked for the probability that a randomly selected bulb will last for over 5000 hours.

TESTing VALUES can help here. Since 60% of the bulbs come from Factory X, let's say there are 5 total bulbs....

Total Bulbs = 5
Bulbs from Fact. X = 3
Bulbs form Fact. Y = 2

Now we can take the probabilities of lasting more than 5000 hours for each bulb (.99 and .95, respectively) and create a larger "weighted" equation....

[3(.99) + 2(.95)]/5 =

[2.97 + 1.90]/5 =

4.87/5 =

.974 = 97.4%

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Hey,

Is this also correct?

For X, 60% of 99% will work.
For Y, 40% of 95% will work. *40% is the rest of the bulb supply in the market.

So, the probability that a purchased bulb will work is:

0.60(0.99) = .594
0.40(0.95) = 0.38

The combined probability then is 59.4 + 38 = 97.4% ANS C


* However, to be fair, there is a logical leap here, as we are assuming that the remaining 40% of the bulb supply is covered by Y, which is not directly stated in the stem.
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pacifist85
Hey,

Is this also correct?

For X, 60% of 99% will work.
For Y, 40% of 95% will work. *40% is the rest of the bulb supply in the market.

So, the probability that a purchased bulb will work is:

0.60(0.99) = .594
0.40(0.95) = 0.38

The combined probability then is 59.4 + 38 = 97.4% ANS C


* However, to be fair, there is a logical leap here, as we are assuming that the remaining 40% of the bulb supply is covered by Y, which is not directly stated in the stem.

hi pacifist,
an observation it is not for x 60% of 99% will work but in all of them 60 % ....
For X, 60% of 99% will work.... for x, all bulbs will work for more than 5000h in 99% cases..and these bulbs are 60% of all bulbs
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chetan2u
pacifist85
Hey,

Is this also correct?

For X, 60% of 99% will work.
For Y, 40% of 95% will work. *40% is the rest of the bulb supply in the market.

So, the probability that a purchased bulb will work is:

0.60(0.99) = .594
0.40(0.95) = 0.38

The combined probability then is 59.4 + 38 = 97.4% ANS C


* However, to be fair, there is a logical leap here, as we are assuming that the remaining 40% of the bulb supply is covered by Y, which is not directly stated in the stem.

hi pacifist,
an observation it is not for x 60% of 99% will work but in all of them 60 % ....
For X, 60% of 99% will work.... for x, all bulbs will work for more than 5000h in 99% cases..and these bulbs are 60% of all bulbs

Yes sure, I agree. I wasn't sure if I had got the logic correctly.
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