College Algebra, Chapter 10, 10.3, Section 10.3, Problem 48

Refer to the spinner shown in the figure (refer to the book). Find the probability of the given event.

a.) The spinner stops on blue.

There are four out of sixteen number that are shaded blue. Thus, the possibility in this case is

$\displaystyle \frac{4}{16} = \frac{1}{14}$

b.) The spinner stops on an odd number.

There are eight odd numbers from numbers 1-16. Thus, the probability in this case is

$\displaystyle \frac{8}{16} = \frac{1}{2}$

c.) The spinner stops on blue or an odd number.

In this case, the two events are mutually exclusive since all the blue shaded numbers are even. Thus, the probability in this case is

$\displaystyle \frac{4}{16} + \frac{8}{16} = \frac{1}{4} + \frac{1}{2} = \frac{3}{4}$