A board game uses a spinner with three equal sections labeled A, B, and C. A player spins the wheel 60 times and records the outcomes:



A: 28 times


B: 15 times


C: 17 times


How does the experimental probability compare to the theoretical probability?
(4 Points)

The experimental probability matches the theoretical probability exactly.

The experimental probability for A is greater than the theoretical probability.

The experimental probability for B is greater than expected.

The experimental probability for C is greater than expected.

1 answer

To compare the experimental probabilities with the theoretical probabilities, we first need to determine what the theoretical probability is for each section of the spinner.

Since there are three equal sections (A, B, and C), the theoretical probability for each section is:

  • Probability of A = 1/3
  • Probability of B = 1/3
  • Probability of C = 1/3

Next, we calculate the experimental probabilities based on the 60 spins recorded:

  • Experimental probability of A = Number of A outcomes / Total spins = 28 / 60 = 0.4667 (approximately)
  • Experimental probability of B = Number of B outcomes / Total spins = 15 / 60 = 0.25
  • Experimental probability of C = Number of C outcomes / Total spins = 17 / 60 = 0.2833 (approximately)

Now, we can compare the experimental probabilities to the theoretical probabilities:

  • For A:

    • Experimental probability (0.4667) is greater than theoretical probability (1/3 ≈ 0.3333)
  • For B:

    • Experimental probability (0.25) is less than theoretical probability (1/3 ≈ 0.3333)
  • For C:

    • Experimental probability (0.2833) is less than theoretical probability (1/3 ≈ 0.3333)

Based on this comparison:

  • The statement "The experimental probability for A is greater than the theoretical probability" is correct.
  • The statement "The experimental probability for B is greater than expected" is incorrect, as it is less.
  • The statement "The experimental probability for C is greater than expected" is also incorrect, as it is less.

Based on this analysis, the correct option to choose from the given statements is:

The experimental probability for A is greater than the theoretical probability.