Benjamin has a bag of candy full of 17 strawberry chews and 3 cherry chews that he eats one at a time. Which word or phrase describes the probability that he reaches in without looking and pulls out a strawberry or a cherry chew?

Question

Answer
Multiple Choice Answers
unlikelyunlikely
an equal chance or 50-50an equal chance or 50-50
certaincertain
likelylikely

Answer 1

To determine the probability of Benjamin pulling out either a strawberry chew or a cherry chew, we need to look at his total options.

He has a total of:

• 17 strawberry chews
• 3 cherry chews

The total number of chews is: 17 (strawberry) + 3 (cherry) = 20 chews

Now, when he reaches in without looking, he has two possible outcomes for the type of candy he can pull out: either a strawberry or a cherry chew. Since all the chews are either strawberry or cherry, he is certain to pull out one of them.

Therefore, the probability that he reaches in without looking and pulls out a strawberry or a cherry chew is certain.

The answer is: certain.