Thread: Finding probability

Hi. So I have to work these out:

1. What is the probability of achieving a finishing position in the top 3 when starting from one
of the first 6 grid positions?
2. What is the probabilty of not finishing the race when starting from one of the first 6 grid
positions?

So, the questions are about a bunch of data I have collected, about six formula 1 races. For each race held in China between 2005 and 2010, I've collected data like - finishing positions, grid positions, Average speed, fastest lap, etc...

Now, how do I answer these questions? We were told to treat all the 5 races as one lump of data, and that has confused me, as each race has a different number of drivers(e.g. 2005 has 20 drivers, 2006 has 22).

So if I treat it as one lump, I get the following:

For question 1:
Overall, 128 drivers compete over the 6 year period.
36 of those drivers started in the top 6 grid positions..
Out of the 36 who started in the top 6, 17 of them finished in the top 3.

For question 2:
Out of all 128 drivers, 99 completed the race.
Therfore, 29 drivers didn't.
7 of those 29 drivers who didn't finish started in the top 6.

So, can somebody help me out? Much appreciated.

From what I understand, your denominator is the number of drivers starting in the top 6 and the numerator is the number who got in the top 3.

Second is just the opposite of that (or 1 - answer to 1).

That's just my 2 cents .