Problem Solving Using Theoretical Probabilities Quick Check

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Question
A desk drawer has 20 pens: 4 fountain pens, 10 gel pens, and 6 ballpoint pens. What is the probability of randomly choosing a gel pen, replacing it, and then choosing a fountain pen?(1 point)
Responses

110
Start Fraction 1 over 10 End Fraction

710
Start Fraction 7 over 10 End Fraction

12
Start Fraction 1 over 2 End Fraction

15

1 answer

To solve the problem, we need to calculate the probability of two independent events: choosing a gel pen and choosing a fountain pen.

  1. Probability of choosing a gel pen:

    • There are 10 gel pens out of a total of 20 pens.
    • Probability (gel pen) = \( \frac{10}{20} = \frac{1}{2} \)
  2. Probability of choosing a fountain pen:

    • There are 4 fountain pens out of 20 pens.
    • Probability (fountain pen) = \( \frac{4}{20} = \frac{1}{5} \)

Since we are replacing the pen after the first choice, these two events are independent. We can multiply their probabilities:

\[ P(\text{gel pen then fountain pen}) = P(\text{gel pen}) \times P(\text{fountain pen}) = \frac{1}{2} \times \frac{1}{5} = \frac{1}{10} \]

Thus, the probability of randomly choosing a gel pen, replacing it, and then choosing a fountain pen is:

\(\frac{1}{10}\)

The correct response is: Start Fraction 1 over 10 End Fraction