Page 196 - Probability Demystified
P. 196
CHAPTER 10 Simulation 185
5. Which device will not generate random numbers?
a. Computer
b. Abacus
c. Dice
d. Calculator
Probability Sidelight
PROBABILITY IN OUR DAILY LIVES
People engage in all sorts of gambles, not just betting money at a casino
or purchasing a lottery ticket. People also bet their lives by engaging in
unhealthy activities such as smoking, drinking, using drugs, and exceeding
the speed limit when driving. A lot of people don’t seem to care about the
risks involved in these activities, or they don’t understand the concepts of
probability.
Statisticians (called actuaries) who work for insurance companies can
calculate the probabilities of dying from certain causes. For example, based
on the population of the United States, the risks of dying from various causes
are shown here.
Motor vehicle accident 1 in 7000
Shot with a gun 1 in 10,000
Crossing a street 1 in 60,000
Struck by lightning 1 in 3,000,000
Shark attack 1 in 300,000,000
The risks of dying from various diseases are shown here.
Heart attack 1 in 400
Cancer 1 in 600
Stroke 1 in 2000
As you can see, the probability of dying from a disease is much higher than
the probability of dying from an accident.
