Probability

This topic has expert replies
Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 12
Joined: Fri May 14, 2010 12:27 am
Thanked: 1 times

Probability

by kannans3 » Thu May 19, 2011 7:51 am
A bag of 10 marbles contains 3 red marbles and 7 blue marbles. If two marbles are selected at random, what is the probability that at least one marble is blue?

A. 21/50
B. 3/13
C. 47/50
D. 14/15
E. 1/5

I am getting a different answer when I solve it in the following way:
Probability of getting atleast one marble blue = Prob of selecting 2 blue marbles + Prob of selecting 1 blue marble and 1 red marble

i.e. (7/10)*(6/9) + (7/10) * (3/9) = 21/30 = 7/10

But the answer is D 14/15.

This is got by 1 - probability of picking both the marbles as red

i.e. (3/10) * (2/9) = 1/15

Therefore 1 - 1/15 = 14/15

Can anybody explain why the answers differ. Thanks.

Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 12
Joined: Fri May 14, 2010 12:27 am
Thanked: 1 times

by kannans3 » Thu May 19, 2011 7:59 am
I found the answer. I missed the other combination i.e. (3/10) * (7/9). So, adding all three gives 14/15 which is a round about way.