As you follow your favorite NBA basketball team’s statistics, you notice the point guard is successfully shooting 85% from the free-throw line for this season. Assuming he is fouled near the end of a game and shoots with that same success rate, what is the probability that he will make at least one free throw when given two chances? Show your work that you used to arrive at your conclusion.

Answer 1

If the events are independent, the probability of both/all events occurring is determined by multiplying the probabilities of the individual events.

P(1) = .85 * .15 = ?

P(2) = .85 * .85 = ?

Either-or probabilities are found by adding the individual probabilities.

Answer 2

12.75%