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Investigation 2: Simulating the "Meeting Problem" 

Test yourself (solution)

Since Jim's probability of passing is 50%, the ratio is 1:2. We can model this event by randomly selecting the integers 1 and 2 and letting 1 represent a pass and 2  represent a failure.

Since Anne's probability of passing is 80%, the ratio is 4:5. We can model this event by randomly selecting the integers 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 and letting 1, 2, 3, and 4 represent a pass and 5 represent failure.

The random selection of the integers can be done using your TI83 (the keystrokes for doing this are shown in the Viewlets in Lessons 1 and 2 of this section). Fifteen trials have been complete and recorded in the table below.

Trial#

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15
Jim

1

1

1

2

1

1

2

2

1

1

2

2

1

2

1
Anne

5

5

4

5

5

5

1

3

4

5

3

4

2

4

4
Both pass?

n

n

y

n

n

n

n

n

y

n

n

n

n

n

y

Based on the fact that of the 15 trials of the simulation, only 3 produced a result where they both passed we can say:
                         

Fifteen trials are not sufficient to allow us to be very comfortable with the probability of 20%. We really should have done at least 50 trials. However, in the interest of space (the table fits the page nice) the results reported were limited to 15 trials.