Determine whether the events are mutually exclusive.
-The table below describes the smoking habits of a group of asthma sufferers. $$\begin{array} { r | c c c c r }
&& \text { Occasional } & \text { Regular } &{ \text { Heavy } } \
& \text { Nonsmoker } & \text { smoker } &\text { smoker }&\text { smoker }& \text { Total } \
\hline \text { Men } & 370 & 45 & 61 & 39 & 515 \
\text { Women } & 443 & 39 & 84 & 38 & 604 \
\text { Total } & 813 & 84 & 145 & 77 & 1119
\end{array}$$ If one of the 1119 people is randomly selected, find the probability of getting a regular or heavy smoker.
A)0.198
B)0.130
C)0.450
D)0.089

Question

Determine whether the events are mutually exclusive.
-The table below describes the smoking habits of a group of asthma sufferers. $$\begin{array} { r | c c c c r } 
&& \text { Occasional } & \text { Regular } &{ \text { Heavy } } \
& \text { Nonsmoker } & \text { smoker } &\text { smoker }&\text { smoker }& \text { Total } \ 
\hline \text { Men } & 370 & 45 & 61 & 39 & 515 \
\text { Women } & 443 & 39 & 84 & 38 & 604 \
\text { Total } & 813 & 84 & 145 & 77 & 1119
\end{array}$$ If one of the 1119 people is randomly selected, find the probability of getting a regular or heavy smoker.
A)0.198
B)0.130
C)0.450
D)0.089

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The probability of selecting a regular or heavy smoker is the sum of the probabilities of selecting a regular smoker and a heavy smoker, since these events are mutually exclusive (a person cannot be both a regular and heavy smoker simultaneously). There are 145 regular smokers and 77 heavy smokers, making a total of 222 smokers out of 1119 people. Thus, the probability is $ \frac{222}{1119} \approx 0.198 $.

Determine Whether the Events Are Mutually Exclusive If One of the 1119 People Is Randomly Selected, Find