orangeflow
New member
- Joined
- Jan 14, 2010
- Messages
- 4
A machine fires every 6 seconds, but has a 20% chance to fire at 3 seconds and a 20% chance to fire at 4.5 seconds. If the goal of the machine is to fire as much as possible, what is the average the machine will fire?
((1/5)3+(1/5)4.5+(1)6)/3=4.8
Ive been told that the answer to this problem is 4.8 but I dont know how. The above equation is the farthest I have gotten to a solvable equation, but is clearly not right. I know that if the machine had an equal chance to fire at 3sec, 4.5sec, and 6seconds the average firing time would be 4.5, but since it only has a 20% chance for 3sec and 20% chance for 4.5sec I dont know how the correct answer is 4.8.
((1/5)3+(1/5)4.5+(1)6)/3=4.8
Ive been told that the answer to this problem is 4.8 but I dont know how. The above equation is the farthest I have gotten to a solvable equation, but is clearly not right. I know that if the machine had an equal chance to fire at 3sec, 4.5sec, and 6seconds the average firing time would be 4.5, but since it only has a 20% chance for 3sec and 20% chance for 4.5sec I dont know how the correct answer is 4.8.