MrAnd MrsJones Have Five Daughters

question 173

Multiple Choice

Mr.and Mrs.Jones have five daughters.Hoping for a son,they decide to have a sixth child,reasoning that a boy is long overdue.Is their reasoning correct,and why

• A) Yes. After having so many daughters, a boy is almost a sure thing. 
• B) No. The simple probability of a son is unaffected by the sex of previous children. 
• C) No. It is more likely that Mr. and Mrs. Jones will continue to produce girls. 
• D) Yes. The greater the number of girls a couple has had, the greater the likelihood that the next will be a boy.

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Definitions:

Price Elasticity

A measure of the responsiveness of the quantity demanded or supplied of a good to a change in its price.

Tax

A financial charge or levy imposed by a government on individuals or entities to fund public services and government spending.

Inefficiency Costs

The costs associated with not utilizing resources in the most productive manner, which can lead to increased operational expenses and reduced profitability.

Elasticity

A measure of the responsiveness of the quantity demanded or supplied of a good or service to a change in one of its determinants, such as price or income.