Final answer:
Malachi's likelihood of choosing two multiplication cards from a deck of 100 mixed operation cards is very low. A simulation with 1,500 trials showed only 5 instances of this happening, signaling it is an unlikely event.
Step-by-step explanation:
Part A: Problem Statement and Assumptions
The problem is to determine the likelihood of Malachi selecting two multiplication flashcards from a stack of 100 cards where there are 42 addition, 56 subtraction, and only 2 multiplication cards. The assumption is that each card has an equal chance of being selected.
Part B: Simulation Process
For one repetition, we represent the flashcards by numbers 1 to 100. The two multiplication cards are represented by two specific numbers - say 1 and 2. We use a random number generator to draw two numbers from this set to simulate the selection of two flashcards. The measured variable is whether both drawn cards are multiplication cards.
Part C: Running One Repetition
Using a calculator, we generate two random numbers between 1 to 100. Suppose the numbers generated are 53 and 78, which do not represent the multiplication cards. Thus, for this repetition, Malachi did not draw two multiplication cards.
Part D: Conclusion from Simulation Results
After 1,500 repetitions, if there were only 5 instances where both cards were multiplication cards, it suggests that drawing two multiplication cards is quite unlikely, as this occurred in only a small fraction of the trials.