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Probability From Data
Experimental probability estimates the likelihood of an event using real data, rather than assuming equal chances.
Estimating From Experiments
Example 1 — experimental probability from a coin
A coin is flipped times and lands heads times. Find the experimental probability of heads.
- Favourable outcomes (heads):
- Total trials:
- Divide:
Answer:
A fair coin's theoretical probability of heads is exactly . The experimental result () is close, but not identical — with more flips, the experimental probability generally gets closer and closer to the theoretical value.
Practice
A spinner is spun times and lands on red times. Find the experimental probability of red, as a decimal.
Your answer
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