Based on meteorological records, the probability that it will snow in a certain town on January 1st is 0.401. How do you find the probability that in a given year it will not snow on January 1st in that town?

1 Answer
Jan 30, 2016

The probability that it will not snow will be #1-0.401=0.599#.

Explanation:

In probability terms, there are only two possibilities: it will snow, or not snow. (In meteorological terms it might rain, hail or sleet instead!)

The total probability of all events, snowing and not snowing, is #1.0#, so if the probability of snowing is #0.401# then the probability of not snowing must be #1-0.401=0.599#.