Final answer:
To find the probability that each handyman will get six nuts and six bolts, we need to calculate the total number of possible outcomes and the number of favorable outcomes. The probability is (C(12, 6) * C(12, 6)) / C(24, 12).
Step-by-step explanation:
To find the probability that each handyman will get six nuts and six bolts, we need to calculate the total number of possible outcomes and the number of favorable outcomes.
There are 12 nuts and 12 bolts in the box, so there are a total of 24 items. The total number of possible outcomes is given by the binomial coefficient C(24, 12) (choose 12 items from a total of 24).
The number of favorable outcomes is the number of ways to distribute 6 nuts to one handyman and 6 nuts to the other handyman, multiplied by the number of ways to distribute 6 bolts to one handyman and 6 bolts to the other handyman.
Hence, the probability is (C(12, 6) * C(12, 6)) / C(24, 12).