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Q2(iv):
Which of the following experiments have equally likely outcomes? Explain. (iv) A baby is born. It is a boy or a girl.

Solution :

Given: An experiment where a baby is born, and the outcome is either a boy or a girl.

To Find: Determine whether the outcomes of this experiment are "equally likely" and provide a logical explanation.

Definition of Equally Likely Outcomes:
Outcomes of an experiment are said to be equally likely if each outcome has the same probability of occurring. If an experiment has $n$ possible outcomes, each outcome is equally likely if the probability of each is $\frac{1}{n}$.

Step 1: Identifying the Sample Space
Let $S$ be the sample space of the experiment.
The possible outcomes are:
$E_1$: The baby is a boy.
$E_2$: The baby is a girl.
Thus, $S = \{ \text{Boy, Girl} \}$. The total number of possible outcomes is $n = 2$.

Step 2: Analyzing the Probability of Each Outcome
In biological terms, the sex of a baby is determined by the combination of sex chromosomes (XX for female, XY for male). During fertilization, there is an approximately equal chance of a sperm carrying an X chromosome or a Y chromosome fertilizing the egg.
Let $P(E_1)$ be the probability that the baby is a boy.
Let $P(E_2)$ be the probability that the baby is a girl.

Step 3: Evaluating the Likelihood
Based on biological principles and statistical data collected over large populations, the ratio of male births to female births is approximately $1:1$.
Therefore:
$P(E_1) \approx 0.5$
$P(E_2) \approx 0.5$
Since $P(E_1) = P(E_2) = \frac{1}{2}$, the outcomes are considered to have an equal chance of occurrence.

Step 4: Conclusion
Because the probability of the baby being a boy is equal to the probability of the baby being a girl, the outcomes are equally likely.

Final Answer: Yes, the outcomes are equally likely because, biologically, the chance of a baby being a boy or a girl is approximately equal ($50\%$ each).


More Questions from Class 10 Mathematics Probability EXERCISE 14.1


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