Question

What are the odds of picking an 'm' in the word Alabama?
Isn't the answer 1:6? The probability would be 1/7, correct? If you google this question most people are saying the odds are 1:7, but I don't think thats correct...am I right?

Answer 1

there are 7 letters in alabama, and so the probability would be \(\frac{1}{7}\)

Answer 2

I'm asking for the odds

Answer 3

There are 7 total letters in the word Alabama.

There is 1 'm', in alabama, therefore the probability is \(\dfrac{1}{7}\)

Answer 4

Wouldn't the odds be 1:6

Answer 5

Probability is the same thing as 'odds'.

Answer 6

No, it's not 1:6, because there are SEVEN total letters and NOT SIX.

Answer 7

So it's 1:7 or \(\dfrac{1}{7}\).

Answer 8

but @iGreen It even says right in my unit Odds are # of desirable outcomes/ # of undesirable outcomes and that probability is # of desirable outcomes/# of possible outcomes

Answer 9

so with following this wouldnt the probability be 1/7 and the odds be 1:6?

Answer 10

It's incorrect, the probability is 1/7.

Answer 11

@Duffy0121

Answer 12

I think I should go off of what my unit says, Probability and odds are different, let me pull you an example.

Answer 13

Odds is defined as the ratio of the number of ways a successful event can occur to the number of ways the event can’t occur.

Answer 14

Suppose you have a six sided die (singular of dice). What are the odds and probability of rolling a number greater than or equal to 5?

Odds is defined as success : failures.

There are two numbers greater than or equal to 5. Those numbers are 5 and 6. The failures would be the numbers that are not greater than or equal to 5. Those numbers are 1, 2, 3, and 4.

This means that odds is 2 : 4 or 1 : 2.

Answer 15

So see what I mean @iGreen

Answer 16

Yes, I do..if odds are Success : Failures, then 1 : 6 does seem correct.