Green Balls in a Bowl

This topic has expert replies
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 487
Joined: Fri Mar 27, 2009 5:49 am
Thanked: 36 times

Green Balls in a Bowl

by dtweah » Wed May 13, 2009 5:17 am
Two balls are drawn at random, without replacement, from a bowl containing 5 red and n green balls. What is the minimum value of n such that the probability is at least 1/2 that both of the drawn balls are green?
(a) 9
(b) 11
(c) 13
(d) 15
e) 17
Source: — Problem Solving |

User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 682
Joined: Fri Jan 16, 2009 2:40 am
Thanked: 32 times
Followed by:1 members

Re: Green Balls in a Bowl

by Vemuri » Wed May 13, 2009 6:54 am
IMO C.

The probability of that both the drawn balls are green:

n/(5+n) * (n-1)/(5+(n-1)) >= 1/2
n/(5+n) * (n-1)/(n+4) >= 1/2
2n(n-1)>=(5+n)(n+4)
n^2-11n-20>=0

Substitute 13 as the value of n & you will see that 6>0. This is the minimum value (check 11 & 9 to see that the inequality does not satisfy).

User avatar
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 319
Joined: Wed Feb 04, 2009 10:32 am
Location: Delhi
Thanked: 84 times
Followed by:9 members

Re: Green Balls in a Bowl

by sureshbala » Wed May 13, 2009 12:30 pm
Vemuri wrote:IMO C.

The probability of that both the drawn balls are green:

n/(5+n) * (n-1)/(5+(n-1)) >= 1/2
n/(5+n) * (n-1)/(n+4) >= 1/2
2n(n-1)>=(5+n)(n+4)
n^2-11n-20>=0

Substitute 13 as the value of n & you will see that 6>0. This is the minimum value (check 11 & 9 to see that the inequality does not satisfy).
The best way to solve this is to use the options. Even after framing the quadratic you were doing the same.

Also start with the median value so that based on the outcome of the result you can decide whether the answer is more or less than the option chosen by you.

Considering n=13 we get the required probability as

13/18 x 12/17 = 26/51 > 1/2

Now you have to check n =11 also before concluding the answer

If n =11, the required probab is

11/16 x 10/15 = 11/24 <1/2

Hence the least value of N is 13