Question

In a certain sock drawer, there are 4 pairs of black socks, 3 pairs of gray socks and 2 pairs of orange socks. If socks are removed at random without replacement, what is the minimum number of socks that must be removed in order to ensure that two socks of the same color have been removed

Answer 1

4 socks.

Explanation:

There are three different colors of socks in the drawer: black, gray and orange.

The worst possible scenario for making a pair would be getting a different color of sock with the first three picks (1 black, 1 gray, 1 orange). Since we now have one of each, the next sock drawn from the drawer will form a pair with one of our three socks. Therefore, the minimum number of socks that must be removed in order to ensure that two socks of the same color have been removed is 4.