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Probability Exercise

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Probability Exercise

by starxx68 » Sun Dec 23, 2007 2:52 pm
Each person in Room A is a student and 1/6 of the students are seniors. Each person in Room B is a student and 5/7 are seniors. Each person in Room C is a student and 1/2 the students are seniors. If 1 student is chosen at random from each of the 3 rooms, what is the probability that exactly 2 of the students chosen are seniors?

a) 10/242
b) 16/21
c) 37/84
d) 8/21
e) none of the above
Last edited by starxx68 on Thu Dec 27, 2007 4:13 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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by ray » Sun Dec 23, 2007 4:21 pm
Can you please site the source of this question?

Here is my take:
RAS = Room A – Seniors = 1/6
RAR = Room A - rest of the class = 5/6
RBS = Room B – Seniors = 5/7
RBR = Rest of the class in room B = 2/7
RCS = Room C – Seniors = 1/2
RCR = Room C - ½

1. (RAS)(RBS)(RCR) = (1/6)(5/7)(1/2) = 5/84
2. (RAS)(RBR)(RCS) = (1/6)(2/7)(1/2) = 2/84
3. (RAR)(RBS)(RCS) = (5/6)(5/7)(1/2) = 25/84

Add them:
(5 + 2 + 25)1/84 = 32/84

Answer = E
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by Tud » Sun Dec 23, 2007 4:35 pm
ray wrote:Can you please site the source of this question?

Here is my take:
RAS = Room A – Seniors = 1/6
RAR = Room A - rest of the class = 5/6
RBS = Room B – Seniors = 5/7
RBR = Rest of the class in room B = 2/7
RCS = Room C – Seniors = 1/2
RCR = Room C - ½

1. (RAS)(RBS)(RCR) = (1/6)(5/7)(1/2) = 5/84
2. (RAS)(RBR)(RCS) = (1/6)(2/7)(1/2) = 2/84
3. (RAR)(RBS)(RCS) = (5/6)(5/7)(1/2) = 25/84

Add them:
(5 + 2 + 25)1/84 = 32/84

Answer = E
Take 32/84 one step further and divide the top and bottom by 4 and you get 8/21, answer D.
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by starxx68 » Tue Dec 25, 2007 7:48 pm
Thanks, guys. I had the same line of reasoning to get 8/21, D. My only difference was I factored out the 1/2 since it appears in all three parts of the expression. That allows you to reach the answer faster because you stay in 42nds rather than 84ths.

The question source is Kaplan GMAT Course Book 07-08 Edition, page 279, question 46. I modified it slightly by adding Room C. The original question gives the same probabilities for rooms A and B, and asks: if one student is chosen at random from each room (A and B), what is the probability that exactly one of the students chosen is a senior? The correct answer is 9/14.
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