Another probability question

Question

A box contains 95 purple rubber bands and 90 blue rubber bands. You select a rubber band at random from the box. Find the probability of selecting a purple rubber band. Find the probability of selecting a blue rubber band. 

 

This one is also on my extra credit page. So please help me understand what the teacher is asking so I know what to do next time I run into a question like this! 

Answer 1

There are 95+90 = 185 rubber bands total (95 purple and 90 blue).

 

Probability of selecting purple:

 

P1 = 95/185 = 0.5135 or 51.35 %

 

Probability of selecting blue:

 

P2 = 90/185 = 0.4865 or 48.65%

 

Note P1+P2=1 since there must be 100% probability that you will select a rubber band of some color

Answer 2

 

 

 

The formula of probability is :

 

 

Probability= number of times an event can occur

                   number of possible events

 

 

Probability = number of times an event can occur

                     95 (purple)+ 90  (blue)

 

 

P(purple band) = 95/185=.51%

 

P(blue band)  =   90/185 =.49%