Question

This bag has an unknown number of lollipops and jelly snakes in it. I know that Pr (jelly snake) = 4/5. How many jelly snakes could I have in the bag, if I know I have over 10 lollies total?

Answer 1

40.

Explanation:

Let J represent jelly snake.

Let L represent lollipops

Let S represent sample space

Let y represent the number of jelly snake in the bag. I.e

Number of J = y

Number of L = 10

Number of S = 10 + y

From the question given, we were told that the probability of jelly snake P(J) is 4/5.

But probability of jelly snake, P(J) is given by:

P(J) = nJ/nS

nJ = y

nS = 10 + y

P(J) = 4/5

Thu, we can obtain the number jelly snake, y, in the bag as follow:

P(J) = nJ/nS

4/5 = y/(10 + y)

Cross multiply

5y = 4(10 + y)

Clear bracket

5y = 40 + 4y

Collect like terms

5y – 4y = 40

y = 40

Therefore, the number of jelly snake in the bag is 40