To find the probability that Nerissa will choose a purple bow, we first need to determine the total number of bows in the box.
Nerissa has:
- 5 pink bows
- 1 blue bow
- 4 purple bows
Now, let's calculate the total number of bows:
\[ \text{Total bows} = 5 \text{ (pink)} + 1 \text{ (blue)} + 4 \text{ (purple)} = 10 \text{ bows} \]
Next, we find the number of purple bows, which is 4.
Now, we can calculate the probability of choosing a purple bow using the formula for probability:
\[ \text{Probability of choosing a purple bow} = \frac{\text{Number of purple bows}}{\text{Total number of bows}} = \frac{4}{10} = \frac{2}{5} \]
So, the probability that Nerissa will choose a purple bow is \(\frac{2}{5}\).