Refer to Exercise 4.3 and the probability distribution for the number of delphacid eggs on a blade of water hyacinth. Find the mean of the probability distribution and interpret its value.

Data from Exercise 4.3

Entomological engineers are continually searching for new biological agents to control one of the world’s worst aquatic weeds, the water hyacinth. An insect that naturally feeds on water hyacinth is the delphacid. Female delphacids lay anywhere from one to four eggs onto a water hyacinth blade. The Annals of the Entomological Society of America (Jan. 2005) published a study of the life cycle of a South American delphacid species. The accompanying table gives the percentages of water hyacinth blades that have one, two, three, and four delphacid eggs.

Transcribed Image Text:

One Egg TwO Eggs Three Eggs Four Eggs Percentage of Blades 40 54 4