When Two Competing Teams Are Equally Matched, the Probability That

question 39

Essay

When two competing teams are equally matched, the probability that each team wins any game is 0.5. The NBA championship goes to the team that wins four games in a
best-of-seven series. If the teams were equally matched, the probability that the final series ends with one of the teams sweeping four straight games would be 2(0.5)4 = 0.125. Further probability calculations indicate that 25% of these series should last five games, 31.25% should last six games, and the other 31.25% should last the full seven games. The table shows the number of games it took to decide each of the last 57 NBA champs. Do you think the teams are usually equally matched? Give statistical evidence to support yourconclusion.

$\begin{array}{|l|c|c|c|c|}\hline\text { Length of series }& \text {4 games} & \text {5 games} &\text { 6 games} &\text { 7 games} \\\hline\text { NBA finals }& 7 & 13 & 22 & 15 \\\hline\end{array}$

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Definitions:

Genetic Influences

Contributions to an individual's development, traits, and behaviors from genes inherited from their parents.

Human Intelligence

The cognitive ability of humans to learn, understand, and apply knowledge, solve problems, and adapt to new situations.

Twins And Adopted Children

Studies involving these groups are often used in psychological research to explore the impacts of genetics and environment on human development and behavior.

Identical Twins

Twins who develop from a single fertilized egg that splits and forms two embryos, sharing identical genetic material.