If a fatal crash involving a young driver is randomly selected, the probability that the vehicle is six years old or older is closest to which percentage?

If a fatal crash involving a young driver is randomly selected, the probability that the vehicle is six years old or older is closest to which percentage?

• A. 60%
• B. 75%
• C. 82%
• D. 90%

Answer: (C)

This question is about turning the distribution of vehicle ages in fatal crashes into a simple proportion. You look at all fatal crashes involving young drivers and identify the portion where the vehicle is six years old or older. That portion, expressed as a percentage, is the answer. If the data show that about 82 out of every 100 such crashes involve vehicles six years old or older, the percentage is 82%. It’s the closest match to the observed share, and not as high as 90% or as low as 60% or 75% because the actual portion from the data lies around 82%.

This question is about turning the distribution of vehicle ages in fatal crashes into a simple proportion. You look at all fatal crashes involving young drivers and identify the portion where the vehicle is six years old or older. That portion, expressed as a percentage, is the answer. If the data show that about 82 out of every 100 such crashes involve vehicles six years old or older, the percentage is 82%. It’s the closest match to the observed share, and not as high as 90% or as low as 60% or 75% because the actual portion from the data lies around 82%.