MODELING REAL LIFE You check 20 laser pointers at random. Three of the laser pointers are defective. What is the experimental probability that a laser pointer is defective? The experimental probability that a laser pointer is defective is

To find the experimental probability that a laser pointer is defective, you take the number of defective laser pointers and divide it by the total number of laser pointers you checked. In this case, you have 3 defective pointers out of 20 checked. So, the probability is 3/20, which simplifies to 0.15. So, the experimental probability that a laser pointer is defective is 0.15, or 15%. In everyday situations, understanding probability can help you make more informed decisions, like when choosing products or understanding risks. For instance, if you know there’s a 15% chance that a laser pointer will be defective, you might decide to buy more, knowing some will likely not work. This is all about minimizing the frustration of encountering a faulty product!