what is the fraction

Question

A box contains 5 
plain pencils and 7
pens. A second box contains 2 
color pencils and 2
crayons. One item from each box is chosen at random. What is the probability that a plain pencil from the first box and a color pencil from the second box are selected?

Write your answer as a fraction in simplest form.

Answer 1

Good morning Roneshia,

 

 

The probability of both choosing a plain pencil and choosing a color pencil is equal to those probabilities multiplied.

 

 

P(plain pencil and color pencil) = p(plain pencil) · p(color pencil)

 

   = (5/12)· (2/4)        {12 is the number of items in the first box, 4 is the number of items in the second box}

 

   = 10/48

 

   = 5/24

 

I hope this helps!