Step 1 :Given that the basketball player makes 80 percent of his free throws, we have p = 0.8 and n = 8.
Step 2 :We need to find the probability of making at least 6 free throws, which means we need to calculate the probability of making exactly 6, 7, and 8 free throws and then sum them up.
Step 3 :Using the binomial probability formula: P(X=k) = C(n, k) * p^k * (1-p)^(n-k)
Step 4 :Calculate the probability of making exactly 6 free throws: \(P(X=6) = C(8, 6) * 0.8^6 * (1-0.8)^{(8-6)} \approx 0.2936\)
Step 5 :Calculate the probability of making exactly 7 free throws: \(P(X=7) = C(8, 7) * 0.8^7 * (1-0.8)^{(8-7)} \approx 0.3355\)
Step 6 :Calculate the probability of making exactly 8 free throws: \(P(X=8) = C(8, 8) * 0.8^8 * (1-0.8)^{(8-8)} \approx 0.1678\)
Step 7 :Sum up the probabilities: \(P(X \geq 6) = P(X=6) + P(X=7) + P(X=8) \approx 0.2936 + 0.3355 + 0.1678 = 0.7969\)
Step 8 :\(\boxed{\text{Final Answer: The probability that the basketball player will make at least six free throws in his next eight attempts is approximately 0.7969 or 79.69%}}\)