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# Measurement of Probability

## Express ratio of favorable and possible outcomes as fractions, decimals, and percents.

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Practice Measurement of Probability

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A Bolt of Light

Credit: poorboy1225
Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/20144155@N00/5683294429/

Any time that you calculate the chances of something happening or not happening, you are calculating a probability. Probabilities measure the likelihood of an event. Have you ever wondered what your chances are of being struck by lightning?

#### News Flash

According to National Geographic News, lightning is one of the leading weather-related causes of death and injury in the United States. When people don't heed the warnings of a storm, they take chances with being "struck." But what are those chances? The likelihood of a person becoming a victim of lightning in any given year is 1 in 700,000, which can be expressed as 1700,000\begin{align*}\frac{1}{700,000}\end{align*} or 0.00014%. That is a very small probability!

Credit: Nathan Vaughn
Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/46799485@N00/5802508421/

What are the chances of being struck by lightning in your lifetime? The probability of this happening is 1 in 3,000 or about 0.03%. You have a 0.03% chance of being struck by lightning in your lifetime. The probability is quite small, but it does exist. Be safe and mind Mother Nature!

#### Explore More

Check out the following interactive activity for more practice with probability.

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