Question

Only 40% of the students in a certain liberal arts college are males.Question 10 of 11 If two students from this college are selected at random, what is the probability that they are both males

Answer 1

0.16

Explanation:

Given;

40% males.

If two students are selected at random, probability (P) that they are both males is given as follows;

P = P(1) x P(2)

Where;

P(1) = Probability that the first one is a male

P(2) = Probability that the second one is also a male

Remember that there are 40% males.

This means that 40 out of 100 students selected is going to be a male.

Therefore, for the first selection, any of the 40 students could be selected. The probability P(1), that the first one is male is therefore;

40 / 100 = 0.4

Also,

Assuming there is replacement, for the second selection, any of the 40 students could be selected. The probability P(2), that the second one is also male is therefore;

40 / 100 = 0.4

Now, from;

P = P(1) x P(2)

P = 0.4 x 0.4

P = 0.16

The probability that they are both males is therefore 0.16