Excelsior College Particular Genetic Disease in the US Population Questions

In this discussion, you will work in small groups in online

discussions to solve a mathematics problem involving percents. This

group discussion will help prepare you for activity M8A2, in which you

will write and submit an individual complete solution to a similar

problem.

Consider a particular genetic disease affects 3% of adults in the
U.S. population. Fortunately, there is a genetic test for the gene that
causes the disease. The test is 98% accurate; that is, 98% of the people
who take the test get the correct result (and 2% of people tested get
the wrong result).

In Springfield, there are 100,000 adults, and they all get tested for the disease.

1. How many of the residents of Springfield are likely to have the disease?
2. How many of the people who actually have the disease get a positive test result?
3. How many of the people who do not have the disease get a positive test result?
4. Of the people who get a positive test result, how many of them have
   the disease? Convert this to a percentage: What percent of people who
   get a positive result actually have the disease?
5. What does this percentage tell you about the test?

Be sure to answer all parts of the question above. It is possible that you will not be successful at answering all parts of the question at this point, and that is okay. Describe what you were able to solve and what questions you have remaining.