Bill has a set of 6 black cards and a set of 6 red cards. Each card has a number from 1 through 6, such that each of....

This topic has expert replies
Legendary Member
Posts: 1622
Joined: Thu Mar 01, 2018 7:22 am
Followed by:2 members

Timer

00:00

Your Answer

A

B

C

D

E

Global Stats

Bill has a set of 6 black cards and a set of 6 red cards. Each card has a number from 1 through 6, such that each of the numbers 1 through 6 appears on 1 black card and 1 red card. Bill likes to play a game in which he shuffles all 12 cards, turns over 4 cards, and looks for pairs of cards that have the same value. What is the chance that Bill finds at least one pair of cards that have the same value?

(A) \(\dfrac{8}{33}\)

(B) \(\dfrac{62}{65}\)

(C) \(\dfrac{17}{33}\)

(D) \(\dfrac{103}{165}\)

(E) \(\dfrac{25}{33}\)

Answer: C

Source: Manhattan GMAT

GMAT/MBA Expert

User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 16207
Joined: Mon Dec 08, 2008 6:26 pm
Location: Vancouver, BC
Thanked: 5254 times
Followed by:1268 members
GMAT Score:770
Gmat_mission wrote:
Sun Sep 12, 2021 9:34 am
Bill has a set of 6 black cards and a set of 6 red cards. Each card has a number from 1 through 6, such that each of the numbers 1 through 6 appears on 1 black card and 1 red card. Bill likes to play a game in which he shuffles all 12 cards, turns over 4 cards, and looks for pairs of cards that have the same value. What is the chance that Bill finds at least one pair of cards that have the same value?

(A) \(\dfrac{8}{33}\)

(B) \(\dfrac{62}{65}\)

(C) \(\dfrac{17}{33}\)

(D) \(\dfrac{103}{165}\)

(E) \(\dfrac{25}{33}\)

Answer: C

Source: Manhattan GMAT
We can solve this question using probability rules.

First, recognize that P(at least one pair) = 1 - P(no pairs)

P(no pairs) = P(select ANY 1st card AND select any non-matching card 2nd AND select any non-matching card 3rd AND select any non-matching card 4th)
= P(select any 1st card) x P(select any non-matching card 2nd) x P(select any non-matching card 3rd) x P(select any non-matching card 4th)
= 1 x 10/11 x 8/10 x 6/9
= 16/33

So, P(at least one pair) = 1 - 16/33
= 17/33

Answer: C

Cheers,
Brent
Brent Hanneson - Creator of GMATPrepNow.com
Image