Thread: Dependent and Independent Events

Rocco and biff are two koala bears participating in a series of animal behavior tests. They each have 10 min to solve a maze. Rocoo has an 85% probability of succeeding if he can smell the ecualyptus treat at the other end. He can smell the treat 60% of the time. Biff has a 70% chance of smelling the treat, but when he does, he can solve the maze only 75% of the time. Neither bear will try to solve the maze unless he smells the eucalyptus. Determine which koala bear is more likely to enjoy a tasty treat on any given trial. Explain how you arrived at your conclusion.

Rocco and biff are two koala bears participating in a series of animal behavior tests. They each have 10 min to solve a maze. Rocoo has an 85% probability of succeeding if he can smell the ecualyptus treat at the other end. He can smell the treat 60% of the time. Biff has a 70% chance of smelling the treat, but when he does, he can solve the maze only 75% of the time. Neither bear will try to solve the maze unless he smells the eucalyptus. Determine which koala bear is more likely to enjoy a tasty treat on any given trial. Explain how you arrived at your conclusion.


Rocco succeeds 0.85*0.60 = 0.51
Biff succeeds 0.70*0.75 = 0.525

Biff is more likely to enjoy whatever that thing is by 1.5%.

-Andy