Question

A box contains 3 plain pencils and 5 pens. A second box contains 9 color pencils and 3 crayons. One item from each box is chosen at random. What is the probability that a plain pencil from the first box and a color pencil from the second box are selected?

Answer 1

See below

Explanation:

P stands for probability that ( what ever is in the parentheses)

Total Number of Items In Box 1: 3+5= 8

P(picking a plain pencil given you are in box 1)= 3/8

Total Number of Items in Box 2: 9+3= 12

P(picking a color pencil given you are in box 2)= 9/12= 3/4

Answer 2

9/32

Explanation:

Box A

3 plain pencils and 5 pens = 8 total

P(plain pencil) = plain pencil / total = 3/8

Box B

9 color pencils and 3 crayons = 12 total

P(color pencil) = color pencil / total = 9/12 = 3/4

P (plain, color) = 3/8* 3/4 = 9/32