What Is the Probability That Only One Household Speaks Spanish?

AI Thread Summary
The discussion focuses on calculating the probability that exactly one out of four randomly selected households speaks only Spanish, given that at least one speaks Spanish. The initial calculations involve determining the probabilities of events A (at least one household speaks Spanish) and B (exactly one household speaks Spanish). There is some confusion regarding the assumptions about the remaining 20% of households, with a suggestion that they might speak both languages. The solution approach simplifies the problem by reframing it to find the probability that none of three selected households speak Spanish. The final conclusion is that with the right assumptions, the problem becomes more straightforward to solve.
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Homework Statement


In a neighbourhood, 75% of households speak only English at home, and 5% speak only Spanish at home.

Four households are randomly chosen. Given that at least one of the four households speaks only Spanish at home, what is the probability that only one speaks Spanish at home?

Homework Equations


P(B|A) = P(B&A)/P(A)
A = event that at least one of the four households speak only Spanish
B = event that exactly one speaks only Spanish

The Attempt at a Solution


P(A) = 1 - (75/100)(74/99)(73/98)(72/97) (1 - prob. that none speak Spanish)
P(B&A) = ?

Does P(B&A) = P(B)? Which would mean P(B) = 4(75/100)(74/99)(73/98)(5/97)

Attempted solution: P(B|A) = 0.125

Thanks in advance! :)
 
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The question is not completely clear, I think. It accounts for 80% of houses, but what about the other 20? Are we to assume that they speak both Spanish and English or do they use another language? I will assume that the 20% speak both Spanish and English. I will also assume that the number of households in the pool is very large so that as each of the 4 houses are taken out of the pool, the probabilities for the next random one chosen stay the same.

With these assumptions, the problem is very simple, I think. At least one of the 4 is Spanish only, so I think the problem is equivalent to this: 3 houses are randomly picked, what is the probability that 0 speak Spanish?

25% of houses speak (at least some) Spanish, and 75% don't. What is the probability that all 3 are from the 75% that don't?
 
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