Question

which of the following is a true statement? a. a probability near 0 indicates a likely event. b. a probability near 0 indicates an unlikely event. c. a probability near 1 indicates an unlikely event. d. a probability near \\(\frac{1}{2}\\) indicates a likely event.

Explanation:

To determine the true statement, we analyze the concept of probability:

• Probability values range from 0 to 1. A probability of 0 means an event is impossible, and a probability of 1 means an event is certain.
• A probability near 0 means the event is not likely to occur (unlikely). A probability near 1 means the event is likely to occur. A probability near $\frac{1}{2}$ means the event has about a 50 - 50 chance, neither likely nor unlikely in a strong sense.
• Option A is wrong because a probability near 0 is not a likely event. Option C is wrong because a probability near 1 is a likely event. Option D is wrong because a probability near $\frac{1}{2}$ is a 50 - 50 chance, not a likely event. Option B is correct as a probability near 0 indicates an event that is not likely to happen (unlikely).

Answer:

B. A probability near 0 indicates an unlikely event.