What Is the Probability a Random Customer Takes Sugar or Milk or Both?

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves calculating the probability that a randomly chosen customer at a teashop takes sugar, milk, or both. The context includes specific percentages of customers ordering different types of tea and their corresponding likelihood of taking sugar.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the interpretation of the word "or" in the context of probability calculations. There are attempts to apply probability rules, but confusion arises regarding the correct formulation of the problem and the calculations involved.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants expressing uncertainty about the correct approach to the problem. Some have provided hints and attempted calculations, but there is no consensus on how to proceed or interpret the question accurately.

Contextual Notes

Participants note that the problem may involve complex interpretations of probability, particularly regarding the relationships between taking sugar and milk. There is also mention of the impossibility of probabilities exceeding 1, indicating a need for clarification on the setup of the problem.

ruby_duby
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Hi i need help on the following question:

In a teashop 70% of customers order tea with milk, 20% tea with lemon and 10% with neither. of those taking tea with milk 3/5 take sugar, of those taking tea with lemon 1/4 take sugar, and of those taking tea with neither milk or lemon 11/20 take sugar. a customer is then chosem at random.

i need to find the probability that the customers take suggar or milk or both. i know that the answer is o.525 but i don't know how.

can anybody help me please?
 
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ruby_duby said:
i need to find the probability that the customers take suggar or milk or both.

Hint: the word 'or' is interpreted as the operation '+' while calculating probabilities.
 
yes i understand that
but does that mean that i do

(0.7x3/5) + 0.7 + 3/5 + 1/4 + 11/20
if this is the case then it doesn't equal 0.525
 
ruby_duby said:
yes i understand that
but does that mean that i do

(0.7x3/5) + 0.7 + 3/5 + 1/4 + 11/20
if this is the case then it doesn't equal 0.525

Not only it doesn't equal 0.525 , but it is greater than 1, which cannot be. Just to make sure, the question is: 'Calculate the probability that the person chosen takes (sugar OR milk) OR (sugar AND milk)'? The case (sugar OR milk) would not make sence, because every one is taking sugar.
 
i can't really make sense of the question either, but i think it means (sugar and milk) or (sugar or milk)
 

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