Testing for a disease can be made more efficient by combining samples. If the samples from two people are combined and the mixture tests​ negative, then both samples are negative. On the other​ hand, one positive sample will always test​ positive, no matter how many negative samples it is mixed with. Assuming the probability of a single sample testing positive is 0.1​, find the probability of a positive result for two samples combined into one mixture. Is the probability low enough so that further testing of the individual samples is rarely​ necessary?

College Algebra
7th Edition
ISBN:9781305115545
Author:James Stewart, Lothar Redlin, Saleem Watson
Publisher:James Stewart, Lothar Redlin, Saleem Watson
Chapter9: Counting And Probability
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 14T: An unbalanced coin is weighted so that the probability of heads is 0.55. The coin is tossed ten...
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Testing for a disease can be made more efficient by combining samples. If the samples from two people are combined and the mixture tests​ negative, then both samples are negative. On the other​ hand, one positive sample will always test​ positive, no matter how many negative samples it is mixed with. Assuming the probability of a single sample testing positive is 0.1​, find the probability of a positive result for two samples combined into one mixture. Is the probability low enough so that further testing of the individual samples is rarely​ necessary?

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