A pencil box contains 8 lead pencils and pens. A second pencil box contains color pencils and markers. One item from each box is chosen at random. What is the probability that a pen from the first box and a marker from the second box are selected? Write your answer as a fraction in lowest terms
2006-11-05 09:07:51 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Mathematics
A pencil box contains 8 lead pencils and 2 pens.
A second pencil box contains 3 color pencils
and 2 markers. One item from each box is chosen at random. What is the probability that a pen from the first box and a marker from the second box are selected? Write your answer as a fraction in lowest terms
2006-11-05 09:20:00 · update #1
Probability is the measure of how likely an event is. Is is given by the formula:
P = (The Number Of Ways an Event Can Occur) divided by (The Total Number Of Possible Outcomes)
1) To find the probability for a pen to be selected from the first box, you write the number of pens over the total number of items in the box. So:
2 (number of pens) / 10 ( total items in the box)
which reduces to 1/5.
2) To find the probabilty for a marker to be selected from the second box, you do the same thing.
2 (markers) / 5 ( total items in the box) which cannot be reduced.
The answers are 1/5 and 2/5.
Hope this helps ;-)
2006-11-05 09:32:34 · answer #1 · answered by msdrosi 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I need to make an assumption based on your wording that the first box has eight lead pencils and 8 pens. The second box has 8 color pencils and 8 markers.
Chances of getting a pen from the first box are 8:16, or 1:2 (1/2). Chances of getting a marker from the second box is also 1:2 (1/2)
Mulitiply 1/2 * 1/2 = 1/4
2006-11-05 17:17:51 · answer #2 · answered by Barry B 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Provided there are the same number of each item.
4 to 1 = .25 = 1/4
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Well you changed the rules on us.
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8 pencils 2 pens first box
3 color pencils 2 markers
Pen from the first box is 4 to 1 =.25 = 1/4
Marker from the second box is 1 1/2 to 1 = .66667 = 2/3
1/4 x 2/3 = 2/12 = 1/6
answer is 1/6
2006-11-05 17:11:18 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
8 lead pencils and pens isn't enough. You need to know how many of *each* are in the 1'sat box. Likewise for the color pencils and markers in the 2'nd box. How many of each are present?
Doug
2006-11-05 17:13:42 · answer #4 · answered by doug_donaghue 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To answer this, you first need to find out how many items in the first box are pencils and how many are pens. Then you need to know how many items in the second box are pencils, and how many are markers. Once you know this, you can find the probabilities you want.
2006-11-05 17:14:03 · answer #5 · answered by heartsensei 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm a fifth grader so...yeh I dont really get what you mean but I'll try
chance of a pen: 20% or 1/5
chance of a marker: 40% or 2/5
2006-11-05 17:26:55 · answer #6 · answered by Nobody 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
1/2.
2006-11-05 17:10:34 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Okay, its (2/10)*(2/5) = 2/25.
2006-11-05 17:26:52 · answer #8 · answered by yljacktt 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If i hav to do mathematix..... the question needs to be exciting. Re-phrase!
2006-11-05 17:10:27 · answer #9 · answered by novembr 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
seriously man, i think you forgot to write more of the question...?
2006-11-05 17:15:03 · answer #10 · answered by rachel123go 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋