The machine has just been filled with 50 black, 150 white, 100 red and 100 yellow gum balls that have been thoroughly mixed. Sue and Jim approached the machine first. They both said they wanted red gum balls. What is the likelihood they will get their wish?
A) 0.50
B) 0.062
C) 0.33
D) 0.75

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

There are 100 red gum balls out of a total of 400 gum balls, so the probability of getting a red gum ball on the first try is 100/400 or 0.25. Since both Sue and Jim want red gum balls, the probability of both of them getting a red gum ball on the first try is 0.25 x 0.25, which equals 0.062. Therefore, the best choice is B.

The Machine Has Just Been Filled with 50 Black, 150