Question

The letters that form the word MISSISSIPPI are placed in a bowl. What is the probability of choosing two letters, one after the other, and choosing a P and then an I?

Question 9 options:

4/55

6/11

8/121

3/55

Answer 1

Option C (8/121).

Explanation:

The word MISSISSIPPI contains 11 letters: 1 M, 4 I, 4 S, and 2 P. Thus the probability of choosing one letter can easily be determined.

P(Letter M is selected) = number of M / number of letters = 1/11.

P(Letter I is selected) = number of I / number of letters = 4/11.

P(Letter S is selected) = number of S / number of letters = 4/11.

P(Letter P is selected) = number of P / number of letters = 2/11.

Therefore, the probability of selecting P in the first attempt is 2/11. If the replacement is allowed, then the probabilities will remain unchanged for all the letters. So the probability of selecting I in the first attempt is 4/11. Assuming that the selection of the letters is independent, we can safely multiply both the probabilities. Therefore, 2/11 * 4/11 = 8/121.

So the correct answer is C!!!