Find the probability of drawing an even spade from a standard deck of cards.

Question

Find the probability of drawing an even spade from a standard deck of cards.

 

I cannot figure out if this is an Inclusive or Exclusive Event. I would think that you would have to figure out the amount of even spades in the deck (5/13 spades or 5/52 cards). I would also think there is another part. I am not sure what though.

Answer 1

I'll just stick to the basics while solving this problem. The definition of probability tells us that it is the ratio of the number of events when certain condition is met to the total number of possible events.

 

You are drawing a single card from a deck randomly, so there are 52 different events possible (as there are 52 different cards).

 

There are [2] [4] [6] [8] [10] = 5 even Spades which meet the condition. Thus, number of events that satisfies the condition is 5.

 

So the probability of getting any of those five cards is: 5/52

 

The answer would have been 5/13 if you were given just the spades and were asked to pick one card randomly from those 13 cards. But standard desk of cards has all 52 of them (Spades, Hearts, Diamonds, and Clubs).

 

Thanks.