At each stop, each passenger alights from the bus, independently of the actions of others, with probability 0.2 each. Either 0,1 or 2 new passengers get on the bus, with probabilities 0.5, 0.4, and 0.1, respectively. Passengers at successive stops act independently. Assume the bus is so large that it never becomes full, so new passengers can always board. Assume that the bus is empty when it arrives at the first stop. Question:

Algebra and Trigonometry (MindTap Course List)
4th Edition
ISBN:9781305071742
Author:James Stewart, Lothar Redlin, Saleem Watson
Publisher:James Stewart, Lothar Redlin, Saleem Watson
Chapter14: Counting And Probability
Section14.3: Binomial Probability
Problem 39E
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Bus Ridership

Assumptions:

  • At each stop, each passenger alights from the bus, independently of the actions of others, with probability 0.2 each.
  • Either 0,1 or 2 new passengers get on the bus, with probabilities 0.5, 0.4, and 0.1, respectively.
  • Passengers at successive stops act independently.
  • Assume the bus is so large that it never becomes full, so new passengers can always board.
  • Assume that the bus is empty when it arrives at the first stop.

Question:

Say an observer at the second stop notices that no one alights there, but it is dark and the observer couldn’t see whether anyone was still on the bus. Find the probability there was one passenger on the bus at the time.

I got probability 0.4, can you verify that's correct and if not, show me what I could be doing wrong?

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Hi. Can you please explain where the actual number amounts, e.g. 0.4 and 0.8  come from? Thanks.

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