Probability Questions

Multiple choice
  1. $\dfrac 23$ and $\dfrac 13$
  2. $\dfrac 12$ and $\dfrac 12$
  3. $\dfrac 13$ and $\dfrac 23$
  4. $\dfrac 15$ and $\dfrac 45$
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Let p = 1/2 be the probability of heads. A wins if they get heads on the 1st, 3rd, 5th... toss. P(A) = p + (1-p)^2 * p + (1-p)^4 * p = p / (1 - (1-p)^2) = (1/2) / (1 - 1/4) = (1/2) / (3/4) = 2/3. B wins the rest, so P(B) = 1 - 2/3 = 1/3.

Multiple choice
  1. $\dfrac{1}{2}$
  2. $\dfrac{5}{9}$
  3. $\dfrac{13}{32}$
  4. $\dfrac{1}{5}$
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The probability of the second ball being blue is the same as the first ball if the color of the first is unknown. P(B2) = P(B2|B1)P(B1) + P(B2|R1)P(R1) = (4/8 * 5/9) + (5/8 * 4/9) = 20/72 + 20/72 = 40/72 = 5/9.

Multiple choice
  1. $658/1001$
  2. $318/1001$
  3. $205/1001$
  4. $210/1001$
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Total balls = 14. We choose 5. The number of ways to choose 3 white (from 8) and 2 red (from 6) is C(8,3)*C(6,2) = 56*15 = 840. The ways to choose 4 white and 1 red is C(8,4)*C(6,1) = 70*6 = 420. The ways to choose 5 white is C(8,5) = 56. Total favorable outcomes = 840 + 420 + 56 = 1316. Total possible outcomes = C(14,5) = 2002. Probability = 1316/2002 = 658/1001.