document.write( "Question 425908: If a couple has three children, what is the probability that they have at least one boy. \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #296394 by Theo(13342)![]() ![]() You can put this solution on YOUR website! the probability of at least a boy is 1 minus the probability of no boys.\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "the probability that each child will be a boy is 1/2. \n" ); document.write( "the probability that each child will be a girl is 1/2.\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "the probability of no boys = 1/2 * 1/2 * 1/2 = 1/8\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "the probability of at least 1 boy is 1 minus the probability of no boys.\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "this equals 1 - 1/8 = 7/8\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "the breakdown of the possibilities is shown below:\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "probability of 0 boys = 1/8 \n" ); document.write( "probability of 1 boy = 3 * 1/8 = 3/8 \n" ); document.write( "probability of 2 boys = 3 * 1/8 = 3/8 \n" ); document.write( "probability of 3 boys = 1/8\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "total probability should be equal to 1.\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "1/8 + 3/8 + 3/8 + 1/8 = 1\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "you can see from this that the probability of at least 1 boy is equal to the probability of 1 or 2 or 3 boys which equals 3/8 + 3/8 + 1/8 = 7/8\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "this is the same as 1 minus the probability of 0 boys.\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( " |