Probability Question 406

Question: A bag contains 5 brown and 4 white socks. A man pulls out two socks. The probability that these are of the same colour is

[UPSEAT 1999; MP PET 2000]

Options:

A) $ \frac{5}{108} $

B) $ \frac{18}{108} $

C) $ \frac{30}{108} $

D) $ \frac{48}{108} $

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Answer:

Correct Answer: D

Solution:

  •                 Total socks  $ =5+4=9 $                     The number of ways to select  $ 2 $  socks out of 9 =  $ ^{9}C_2 $                     If number of ways to select both brown socks  $ ={{\,}^{5}}C_2 $                               And number of ways to select both white socks  $ ={{\,}^{4}}C_2 $                      
    

$ \therefore ,P $ (Both brown or white) $ =\frac{^{5}C_2+{{,}^{4}}C_2}{^{9}C_2}=\frac{16}{36}=\frac{48}{108} $ .