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Question

If one letter each is drawn at random from the words CAUSE and EFFECT, the chance that they are the same is

The correct answer is
1/10

Probability of Drawing Same Letter

We need to find the probability that a letter drawn randomly from the word CAUSE is the same as a letter drawn randomly from the word EFFECT.

Letters in Each Word

Word 1: CAUSE

  • Number of letters = 5
  • Letters present: C, A, U, S, E (each appearing once)

Word 2: EFFECT

  • Number of letters = 6
  • Letters present: E (twice), F (twice), C (once), T (once)

Calculating Total Possible Outcomes

The total number of ways to draw one letter from CAUSE and one letter from EFFECT is the product of the number of letters in each word.

Total Outcomes = (Number of letters in CAUSE) $\times$ (Number of letters in EFFECT)

Total Outcomes = $5 \times 6 = 30$

Calculating Favorable Outcomes (Same Letter)

We need to find the pairs of letters that are the same from both words.

  • Common Letters: The letters that appear in both words are 'C' and 'E'.
  • Case 1: Drawing 'C'
    • Ways to draw 'C' from CAUSE = 1
    • Ways to draw 'C' from EFFECT = 1
    • Number of pairs with 'C' = $1 \times 1 = 1$
  • Case 2: Drawing 'E'
    • Ways to draw 'E' from CAUSE = 1
    • Ways to draw 'E' from EFFECT = 2
    • Number of pairs with 'E' = $1 \times 2 = 2$

Total Favorable Outcomes = (Pairs with 'C') + (Pairs with 'E')

Total Favorable Outcomes = $1 + 2 = 3$

Determining the Probability

The probability is the ratio of favorable outcomes to total possible outcomes.

Probability = $\frac{\text{Total Favorable Outcomes}}{\text{Total Outcomes}}$

Probability = $\frac{3}{30} = \frac{1}{10}$

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Important Questions from Probability (Notes)

  1. In a class, 40% and 20% students passed in Mathematics and Physics, respectively, and 10% students passed in both subjects. What is the probability of a randomly selected student to have passed in Physics if the student already passed in Mathematics?
  2. A stick of length L is broken into two pieces at random. What is the average length of the smaller piece?
  3. Two students are solving the same problem independently. If the probability that the first one solves the problem is $\frac{3}{5}$ and the probability that the second solves the problem is $\frac{4}{5}$, what is the probability that at least one of them solves the problem?
  4. A fair die was thrown three times and the outcome was repeatedly six. If the die is thrown again what is the probability of getting six?
  5. 12 balls, 3 each of the colours red, green, blue and yellow are put in a box and mixed. If 3 balls are picked at random, without replacement, the probability that all 3 balls are of the same colour is
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