Mathematics

Mathematics

Problem

A basketball player has scored 24 successful free throws out of 60 attempts. Find the least number of consecutive successful free throws she must now make so that her empirical probability of success becomes at least 0.50.5.
Intuitive explanation

The key insight is that empirical probability is just the ratio of successes to total attempts—so you need to find how many more successes will push that fraction to at least 0.50.5. Set up an inequality where the numerator is her current successes plus nn new ones, and the denominator is her current total plus nn attempts, then solve for the smallest integer nn that makes the ratio at least 12\frac{1}{2}.

Intuitive explanation

The key insight is that empirical probability is just the ratio of successes to total attempts—so you need to find how many more successes will push that fraction to at least 0.50.5. Set up an inequality where the numerator is her current successes plus nn new ones, and the denominator is her current total plus nn attempts, then solve for the smallest integer nn that makes the ratio at least 12\frac{1}{2}.

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