Question

3) An oil prospector will drill a succession of holes in a given area to find a productive well. The probability that he is successful on a given trial is 0.2. What is the probability that the third hole drilled is the first to yield a productive well?

Answer 1

Answer: 0.128

Step-by-step explanation:

The geometric probability of getting success on nth trial is given by :-

$P(n)=p(1-p)^{n-1}$

Given : The probability that he is successful on a given trial$p= 0.2$.

Then , the probability that the third hole drilled is the first to yield a productive well is given by :-

$P(3)=0.2(1-0.2)^{3-1}=0.128$

Hence, the probability that the third hole drilled is the first to yield a productive well = 0.128