Experimental probability, also known as empirical probability, is the probability of an event calculated based on the actual results of a series of experiments or trials. It is determined by performing an experiment repeatedly and recording how many times the event of interest occurs. The experimental probability of an event is given by the formula:
P(E)=Number of times the event occursTotal number of trialsP(E)=\frac{\text{Number of times the event occurs}}{\text{Total number of trials}}P(E)=Total number of trialsNumber of times the event occurs
For example, if you flip a coin 50 times and get heads 20 times, the experimental probability of getting heads is 2050=25\frac{20}{50}=\frac{2}{5}5020=52
. This differs from theoretical probability, which is based on what is expected to happen according to mathematical reasoning, without conducting actual experiments. Experimental probability reflects what actually happens in practice, while theoretical probability predicts what should happen in theory
. In summary, experimental probability is an estimate of the likelihood of an event based on observed data from repeated trials or experiments, making it a practical way to measure probability in real-world situations
