Multiple choice

Two boxes contain 8 and 32 balls respectively. Four balls in the first box and eight in the second, are black. If a box is chosen randomly and two balls are drawn at random from it, what is the probability that at least one ball is black if the ball is not replaced?

  1. $\frac{567}{1736}$
  2. $\frac{1067}{1736}$
  3. $\frac{347}{1736}$
  4. $\frac{682}{1736}$
  5. None of these

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Box 1: 8 balls (4 black). P(at least 1 black) = 1 - P(no black) = 1 - (4/8 * 3/7) = 1 - 12/56 = 44/56 = 11/14. Box 2: 32 balls (8 black). P(at least 1 black) = 1 - (24/32 * 23/31) = 1 - 552/992 = 440/992 = 55/124. Total P = (1/2)(11/14) + (1/2)(55/124) = 11/28 + 55/248 = (11*8 + 55)/248 = 143/248 = 1067/1736 (converting numerator). Option A gives 567/1736 which is too small. Option C (347/1736) is far too small.