Algebra Last question for tonight

An oil-drilling company knows that it costs $25,000 to sink a test well. If oil is hit, the income for the drilling company will be $395,000. If only natural gas is hit, the income will be $125,000. If nothing is hit, there will be no income. If the probability of hitting oil is 1/40 and if the probability of hitting gas is 1/20, what is the expectation for the drilling company?

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asked by Mary Ann

  1. just multiply each event by its probability. The sum is the expected value of income. Then subtract the costs involved:

    (395000)(1/40)+(125000)(1/20)-25000

    Technically, we need all the probabilities to add to 1, so we should include the term for a dry well:

    (0)(37/40)

    but that adds nothing to the result.

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    posted by Steve

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