If the odds against an event are 19 to 1, the probability of its occurrence is
A) .17
B) .05
C) .01
D) .25

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The probability of an event is equal to the number of favorable outcomes divided by the total number of outcomes. When the odds against an event are 19 to 1, there are 19 unfavorable outcomes for every one favorable outcome. Therefore, the total number of outcomes is 20, and the probability of the event is 1/20, which is equal to 0.05 or 5%.

If the Odds Against an Event Are 19 to 1