Math Problem Statement
if there are 5 questions and my professor needs to pick 3. what are the chances he will pick the 2 I study for
Solution
To calculate the probability that your professor picks the 2 questions you study for out of the 3 questions they choose, we use the concept of combinations in probability.
Step 1: Total combinations
The total number of ways to choose 3 questions from the 5 available is given by:
Step 2: Favorable combinations
For your professor to select the 2 questions you studied for, those 2 questions must be in the selection. This leaves 1 more question to be chosen from the remaining 3 questions (5 total - 2 studied). The number of favorable ways this can happen is:
Step 3: Probability calculation
The probability of the professor selecting the 2 questions you studied for is the ratio of favorable combinations to total combinations:
Final Answer:
The probability is 30%.
Would you like more details or a breakdown of these steps?
Here are 5 related questions to consider:
- What if your professor chooses 4 questions instead of 3?
- How does the probability change if you study for 3 out of the 5 questions?
- What is the probability that none of your studied questions are chosen?
- Can the probability be increased by studying an additional question?
- How many combinations exist if the professor has 10 questions and picks 4?
Tip: When solving probability problems, always start by identifying the total and favorable outcomes using combinations.
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Math Problem Analysis
Mathematical Concepts
Combinatorics
Probability
Formulas
Combination formula: C(n, k) = n! / [k!(n-k)!]
Probability formula: P = Favorable outcomes / Total outcomes
Theorems
Basic principles of combinatorics
Suitable Grade Level
Grades 9-12
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Probability Calculation Using Combinatorics: 5C3 * 0.63 * 0.42