What is meant by an outcome in the context of probability?

Study for the PLTW Principles of Engineering Exam. Dive into flashcards and multiple choice questions with detailed explanations to ace your exam. Prepare confidently!

In the context of probability, an outcome refers to the overall result of an experiment. When conducting an experiment or a trial, such as flipping a coin, rolling a die, or conducting a survey, the outcome is the specific result that is observed at the end of that experiment. For example, if you roll a die, the outcome could be any of the numbers 1 through 6, depending on which side faces up after the roll.

This understanding of outcome is fundamental in probability, as it sets the groundwork for analyzing various events and their probabilities. Probability calculations often begin by identifying all possible outcomes and assessing their likelihood.

The other options reflect related concepts but do not accurately define "outcome" in this context. For instance, the probability of multiple events refers to the likelihood of combined events occurring, while possible outcomes of a single event encompass all potential results rather than focusing on one specific instance. Additionally, a selected event from the sample space is more about the choice of a specific result from the overall set of possible outcomes, which also diverges from the definition of outcome itself.

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