Final answer:
The question involves calculating the total thickness of wood paneling by considering all possible combinations of two orders, using thicknesses of 1/20 inch, 1/10 inch, and 3/20 inch, and accounting for their associated probabilities.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student's question is related to the concept of probability involving the total thickness of paneling in two orders, where the thicknesses available are 1/20 inch, 1/10 inch, and 3/20 inch. To solve such a problem, one would have to consider all possible combinations of two orders and calculate the total thickness for each combination. This would involve adding the thicknesses of the two chosen panels. The combinations are (1/20 + 1/20), (1/20 + 1/10), (1/20 + 3/20), (1/10 + 1/10), (1/10 + 3/20), and (3/20 + 3/20). Each combination represents a possible outcome for the random variable. Then, the likelihood of each outcome occurring can be assessed if the orders are random and each thickness option has an equal chance of being chosen.