Question

A bowl contains 4 tangerines and 5 clementines. John randomly selects one piece of fruit, and then Pam randomly selects one of the remaining pieces of fruit. What is the probability that John selects a tangerine and Pam selects a clementine?

Answer 1

5/18

Explanation:

1. Find each of their probabilities separately

2. John= # of tangerines/ total # of fruit

3. John = 4/9

4. Pam = # of clementines/ total # of fruit left

5. Pam= 5/8

6. Multiply the two together to get the probability that both pick the fruit they want

7. 4/9 times 5/8

8. 5/18

Answer 2

5/18

Explanation:

There are 9 pieces of fruit in the bowl, tangerines and 5 clementines.

Assuming that they do not put the fruit back

P (tangerine) = number of tangerines/ total = 4/9

Then John keeps his and there are 8 pieces of fruit in the bowl,

3 tangerines and 5 clementines.

P (Clementine) = number of clementines/ total = 5/8

P (tangerine, no replacement, Clementine) = P (tangerine) * P (Clementine)

= 4/9 * 5/8 =5/18