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If a single card is drawn from a standard 52-card deck, what is the probability that it is an ace or a spade?

User QKWS
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2 Answers

13 votes
13 votes

Answer:

Explanation:

4/13

User Kendale
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A 52-card deck is made up of an equal number of diamonds, hearts, spades, and clubs. Because there are 4 suits, there is a 1/4 chance to draw one of them, in our case, spades.

There are 4 aces in a 52-card deck, so the chance of drawing one is 4/52, or 1/13.

The question asks for the probability of drawing an ace or a spade. Because it uses the word "or," we add the probabilities together. This is because there is a chance of drawing either of the cards; it doesn't have to meet both requirements to satisfy the statement.

However, if the question were to say "and," we would multiply the two probabilities.

Let's add 1/4 and 1/13. First, we can find a common denominator. We can use 52 because both fractions can multiply into it (since the ratio came from a deck of 52 cards as well).


(1)/(4) -- > (13)/(52)


(1)/(13) -- > (4)/(52)

Now we can add them together.


(13)/(52) + (4)/(52) = (13+4)/(52) = (17)/(52)

This cannot be simplified further, so the probability is 17 in 52, or 33%.

hope this helps!

User Xiduzo
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