Question

Is a product “green”?A “green” product (e.g., a productbuilt from recycled materials) is one that has minimal impact on the environment and human health. How do consumers determine if a product is “green”? The 2011

ImagePower Green Brands Survey asked this question of more than 9,000 international consumers. The results are shown in the following table.

Reason for saying a product is green	Percentage of consumers
Certification mark on label	45
Packaging	15
Reading information about the product	12
Advertisement	6
Brand we site	4
Other	18
Total	100

a.What method is an international consumer most likely to use to identify a green product?

b.Find the probability that an international consumer identifies a green product by a certification mark on the product label or by the product packaging.

c.Find the probability that an international consumer identifies a green product by reading about the product or from information at the brand’s Web site.

d.Find the probability that an international consumer does not use advertisements to identify a green product.

Short answer

1. Certification mark on label method is an international consumer most likely to use to identify a green product.
2. The probability is 0.60.
3. The probability is 0.16.
4. The probability is 0.94

Step-by-step solution

Important formula

The formula for probability is$\mathbf{P}\mathbf{=}\frac{\mathrm{favourableoutcomes}}{\mathrm{totaloutcomes}}$

Find method is an international consumer most likely to use to identify a green product.

Certification mark on label method is an international consumer most likely to use to identify a green product.

Certification mark on label method is an international consumer most likely to use to identify a green product. 

$\begin{array}{c}\text{P(certificationonlabelorpakaging)}=\frac{45+15}{100}\\ =\frac{60}{100}\\ =0.60\end{array}$

Thus, the probability is 0.60.

The probability that an international consumer identifies a green product by reading about the product or from information at the brand’s Web site.

$\begin{array}{c}\text{P(readingbyproductorbrand)}=\frac{12+4}{100}\\ =\frac{16}{100}\\ =0.16\end{array}$

Hence, the probability is 0.16.

The probability that an international consumer does not use advertisements to identify a green product

$\begin{array}{c}\text{P(doesnotuseadvertisment)}=\frac{45+15+12+4+18}{100}\\ =\frac{94}{100}\\ =0.94\end{array}$

Therefore, the probability is 0.94