Maths question...probability

JimmyTheWig

bod1467 wrote: »

Very low.

Average number of legs is two (or very nearly approaching two). Very few people will have more than two legs, but a reasonable number may have one or even zero legs.

Incorrect.
As you say, the average number of legs is very nearly two but is slightly under two.
Most people have two legs, so most people have more than the average.

bod1467

Good point.

paddyrg

bod1467 wrote: »

Very low.

Average number of legs is two (or very nearly approaching two). Very few people will have more than two legs, but a reasonable number may have one or even zero legs.

There are different ways of calculating 'average' - the three common ones (I don't know if there are others) are mean, modal and median

Mean is what most people think of as average - add em up and divide (so slightly under 2 legs per person)
Mode/modal means what is the most common (exactly 2)
The Median is the middle number, so in this case will give you 2 also. If there is 1 no-legger, 3 one-leggers and 200 two-leggers you put them in order 0,1,1,1,2,2,2,2,2...2,2,2

Statistics are dangerous!

bod1467

Another good point.

So I was both wrong and right at the same time. :rotfl:

Bollotom

bod1467 wrote: »

Another good point.

So I was both wrong and right at the same time. :rotfl:

Probably :beer:

WTFH

bod1467 wrote: »

Another good point.

So I was both wrong and right at the same time. :rotfl:

You are as right as Erwin Schrödinger's cat is alive, and as wrong as it is dead.