MHB Probability of Number 4 Appearing in 100 Tosses? - ASK

[Monoxdifly]

A die is tossed 100 times. What's the expected frequency that the number appears will be 4?

The probability is 1/6, so the expected frequency is 1/6 × 100, but that results in a fraction (16 2/3). Do we need to round it up or down? Is the answer 16 or 17?

 

[mrtwhs]

A die is tossed 100 times. What's the expected frequency that the number appears will be 4?

The probability is 1/6, so the expected frequency is 1/6 × 100, but that results in a fraction (16 2/3). Do we need to round it up or down? Is the answer 16 or 17?

Why does it have to be 16 or 17? Just call it $$16\dfrac{2}{3}$$. There is no rule which says that expected value must be an attainable value (unless it is expressly stated at the start of the problem). Expected value is essentially the long term average. The analogy would be a math class where you get 85 on the first test and 86 on the second. Your average is 85.5 (which is usually a non-attainable score).

 

[Monoxdifly]

Okay then, thanks.