Question: A town is evaluating air quality sensors placed in 7 neighborhoods. If 3 sensors are randomly activated for calibration today, what is the probability that at least one sensor from the high-risk zone (which has 2 sensors) is selected?

Tue, 05 May 2026 14:35:09 +0000

**A town is evaluating air quality sensors placed in 7 neighborhoods. If 3 sensors are randomly activated for calibration today, what is the probability that at least one sensor from the high-risk zone (which has 2 sensors) is selected?** In an era when urban air quality is a growing concern, communities across the United States are increasingly monitoring environmental health through smart infrastructure—such as networks of air quality sensors. A key question shaping local planning conversations is: when calibrating dozens of sensors across neighborhoods, what’s the chance that at least one from a high-risk zone—a designated area with elevated pollution levels—gets activated for routine checks? With two high-risk sensors among seven total, understanding the math behind this scenario reveals not only probability fundamentals but also insights into urban preparedness and risk distribution. ### Why This Question Matters — Public Awareness & Smart Infrastructure As cities invest in environmental monitoring to protect public health, the mechanics behind sensor networks have become more transparent. These devices collect real-time data vital for identifying pollution hotspots and guiding policy. The random activation of sensors for calibration ensures accuracy but also sparks interest—especially in neighborhoods marked as high-risk for air quality. The public increasingly expects detail behind these decisions, and questions like this reflect growing demand for data-driven accountability. When communities hear how probabilities become part of infrastructure planning, trust in local governance grows.