Probability Question

Question

The letters for each of the following words are placed in two separate bags. The letter with the highest probability of being chosen out of its bag is the first letter of the suspects name. Remember: Simplify fraction, if necessary.

Junk

P(J) = _____

Exaggerate

P(G) =____ Suspects name starts with: __

How do I solve this? (This is clue 1 and problem 1 of a murder worksheet I am doing)

Answer 1

Hi Kalise,

This is a fun one. So what is the probability of pulling J from the word Junk. Well there's only 1 J and 4 total letters. That's 1/4. The probability of pulling a G from exaggerate means that there are 2 Gs to 10 total letters. That's a probability of 2/10. Now select the bigger number. To do that, make the denominators the same by multiplying the 10 by 4 and the 4 by 10. Then whatever you do to the bottom you have to do to the top so 1 needs to be multiplied by 10 and 2 needs to be multiplied by 4. As an expression it will look like 1/4x10/10 and 2/10x4/4. This will get you 10/40 and 8/40, so 10/40 is larger. That means the suspects name starts with J.