Question

According to the U.S. National Center for Education Statistics, in 2008 there was a $12.8\%$probability that a doctoral degree awarded at a U.S. university was awarded in engineering. If a 2008 U.S. doctoral recipient is randomly selected, what is the probability that his or her degree was not in engineering?

Short answer

The probability is$87.2\%$

Step-by-step solution

Step 1. Given Information 

The given data is that there was a $12.8\%$probability that a doctoral degree awarded at a U.S. university was awarded in engineering.

Step 2. Explanation

The probability that a doctoral degree awarded at a U.S. university was in engineering is as follows,

$$\begin{gathered} 12.8\%=\frac{12.8}{100} \\ =0.128 \end{gathered}$$

The probability that a doctoral degree awarded at a U.S. university that is not in engineering is shown below,

$$\begin{gathered} Degreethatisnotinengineering=Totalprobability-Degreethatisinengineering \\ =1-0.128 \\ =0.872 \\ =87.2\% \end{gathered}$$