Question bank / Probability and conditional probability

Math · Problem-Solving and Data AnalysisHard

Two students will be selected at random, without replacement, from a group of 44 juniors and 66 seniors. What is the probability that at least one of the selected students is a junior?

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Answer: 2/3

Find the probability that neither student is a junior, then subtract it from 11. The probability that both are seniors is 610×59=3090=13\frac{6}{10} \times \frac{5}{9} = \frac{30}{90} = \frac{1}{3}. So the probability that at least one is a junior is 1−13=231 - \frac{1}{3} = \frac{2}{3}.

Using 610×610\frac{6}{10} \times \frac{6}{10} for both seniors treats the selection as if it were with replacement and gives 0.640.64 instead of 23\frac{2}{3}.

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