Probability 3

Question

The student sitting next to you in class concludes that the probability of the ceiling falling down on both of you before class ends is 1/2, because there are 2 possible outcomes--the ceiling will or will not fall. What is wrong with this reasoning?

 

A. He forgot the outcome of the ceiling only falling on him.

B. He never considered your dodging the ceiling tiles.

C. The outcomes are equally likely to occur.

D. The outcomes are not equally likely.

Answer 1

D.

 

This isn't an either situation like a coin flip where the coin is going to fall and has to land on one of the sides. It's a matter of structural competence and engineering.