11.1 Empirical and Theoretical Probabilities

Question 1

Experiment

Answer 1

A controlled operation that yields a set of results

Question 2

Outcomes

Answer 2

Possible results of an experiment

Question 3

Event (symbolized: E)

Answer 3

A subcollection of the outcomes of the experiment
Ex: if you flip a coin, “heads” and “tails” are events

Question 4

Probability (symbolized: P(E))

Answer 4

Numeric measurement of the likelihood that the event (E) will occur
Classified as empirical

Question 5

Empirical

Answer 5

P(E) = (number of times event E has occurred) ÷ (total number of times experiment has been performed)
The relative frequency of an occurrence of an event which is determined by actual observations of an experiment

Question 6

Theoretical

Answer 6

P(E) = (number of outcomes favorable to E) ÷ (total number of possible outcomes)
Determining the chance of something happening in the future by observing past results; this is determined through a study of possible outcomes that can occur for the given experiment
Used when the experiment has equally likely outcomes

Question 7

Equally likely

Answer 7

Outcomes of an experiment that has the same chance of occurring as any other outcome

Question 8

Law of Large Numbers

Answer 8

States that probability statements apply in practice to a large number of trials