On average,a major earthquake (Richter scale 6.0 or above)occurs 3 times a decade in a certain California county.What is the probability that less than six months will pass before the next earthquake?
A)0.1393
B)0.8607
C)0.0952
D)0.9048

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The probability that less than six months will pass before the next earthquake is the same as the probability that the next earthquake will occur within the next six months. Since there are 3 earthquakes per decade, the probability of an earthquake occurring in any given six-month period is 3/10 * 1/2 = 3/20 = 0.15. Therefore, the probability that less than six months will pass before the next earthquake is 1 - 0.15 = 0.85.

On Average,a Major Earthquake (Richter Scale 6