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Use the tables to answer the question.

Simon’s Results

This table shows the number of white and red balls Simon selected from Bowl A and Bowl B.
Number of White Balls Selected Number of Red Balls Selected
Bowl A 5 15
Bowl B 16 4
Clark’s Results

This table shows the number of white and red balls Clark selected from Bowl A and Bowl B.
Number of White Balls Selected Number of Red Balls Selected
Bowl A 45 55
Bowl B 60 40
Bowls A and B contain a number of white and red balls. Simon and Clark repeatedly selected a ball from both bowls and recorded the results in a table. Whose results will give you a better indication about the proportion of white and red balls in each bowl? Explain your answer.

(1 point)
Responses

Both results can be used, as they performed the experiment at random.
Both results can be used, as they performed the experiment at random.

Neither; they conducted the same number of trials.
Neither; they conducted the same number of trials.

Clark’s experiment. He conducted a greater number of trials than Simon.
Clark’s experiment. He conducted a greater number of trials than Simon.

Simon’s experiment. He conducted a greater number of trials than Clark.

1 answer

To determine which results give a better indication of the proportion of white and red balls in each bowl, we should consider the number of trials each person conducted.

Simon selected 5 white balls and 15 red balls from Bowl A, resulting in a total of 20 trials for Bowl A. From Bowl B, he selected 16 white balls and 4 red balls, totaling 20 trials for Bowl B as well.

Clark selected 45 white balls and 55 red balls from Bowl A, totaling 100 trials for Bowl A. From Bowl B, he selected 60 white balls and 40 red balls, resulting in a total of 100 trials for Bowl B as well.

Since Clark conducted a significantly larger number of trials (100 trials for each bowl) compared to Simon (20 trials for each bowl), Clark’s results will provide a more reliable indication of the true proportions of white and red balls in each bowl. Larger sample sizes tend to yield results that are closer to the actual proportions due to reduced variability.

Thus, the better choice is:

Clark’s experiment. He conducted a greater number of trials than Simon.