Question

A tropical storm is classified as major if it has sustained winds greater than 110 miles per hour. Based on data from the past two decades, a meteorologist estimated the following percentages about future storms.
• 20% of all tropical storms will originate in the Atlantic Ocean, of which 20% will be classified as major.
• 30% of all tropical storms will originate in the eastern Pacific Ocean, of which 15% will be classified as major.
• 50% of all tropical storms will originate in the western Pacific Ocean, of which 25% will be classified as major.
Based on the meteorologist’s estimates, approximately what is the probability that a future tropical storm will originate in the Pacific Ocean and be classified as major?
a. 0.045
b. 0.125
c. 0.17
d. 0.4

Answer 1

Answer:

Based on the meteorologist's estimates, the probability of a future tropical storm to originate in the Pacific Ocean and be classified as major is c. 0.17

Explanation:

The total percentage of future tropical storm is 80% which is the sum of tropical storms in the eastern Pacific Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean. However, the problem asks for the total probability of being a major storm. In the eastern Pacific Ocean, it would be 0.045 which is 15% of 30 (total tropical storms in the eastern Pacific Ocean). In the western Pacific Ocean, it would be 0.125 which is 25% of 50 (total tropical storms in the western Pacific Ocean). The sum of both probabilities = 0.17, which is answer c.