Discussion:
Q: Refer to the contingency table shown below.
(a) Calculate each probability (i-vi) and explain in words what it means.
(b) Do you see evidence that smoking and race are not independent? Explain.
(c) Do the smoking rates shown here correspond to your experience?
(d) Why might public health officials be interested in this type of data? (Data are from Statistical Abstract of the United States, 2001, pp. 12 and 16. Note: Actual statistics are applied to a hypothetical sample of 1,000.) Smoking2
i. P(S) ii. P(W) iii. P(S | W)
iv. P(S | B) v. P(S and W) vi. P(N and B)
Smoking by Race for Males Aged 18-24
Smoker Nonsmoker
(S) (N) Row Total
White (W) 290 560 850
Black (B) 30 120 150
Column Total 320 680 1,000