You pick a card at random. Without putting the first card back, you pick a second card at random.

4
5
6

What is the probability of picking a prime number and then picking a prime number?

Write your answer as a percentage rounded to the nearest tenth.

%

1 answer

To determine the probability of picking two prime numbers in succession from the cards 4, 5, and 6, we first identify the prime numbers in the set.

Among the numbers:

  • 4 is not a prime number (it has divisors other than 1 and itself).
  • 5 is a prime number (its only divisors are 1 and 5).
  • 6 is not a prime number (it has divisors other than 1 and itself).

Thus, the only prime number present is 5.

Now, we calculate the probability of picking a prime number first and then picking a prime number again without replacement.

  1. Picking the first card:

    • The total number of cards is 3 (4, 5, 6).
    • The favorable outcome (picking a prime number) is only one card (5).
    • Therefore, the probability of picking a prime number first is: \[ P(\text{first prime}) = \frac{1}{3} \]
  2. Picking the second card (after having picked 5):

    • If we successfully pick 5 first, we have now 2 cards left (4 and 6).
    • There are no prime numbers left in the remaining cards.
    • Therefore, the probability of picking a prime number second is: \[ P(\text{second prime | first prime}) = 0 \]

Now, we multiply the probabilities together to find the overall probability of both events occurring: \[ P(\text{prime, then prime}) = P(\text{first prime}) \times P(\text{second prime | first prime}) = \frac{1}{3} \times 0 = 0 \]

Since the probability of both events occurring is zero, we convert this to a percentage: \[ 0 \times 100 = 0% \]

Thus, the probability of picking a prime number and then picking a prime number is: \[ \boxed{0.0%} \]