Question 312288: Thomas, Jenna, and Maria are playing a game. They have a bag that contains 42 white tiles and 4 red tiles. Each player takes turns picking a tile at random and does not return the tiles to the bag. The player who draws a red tile first is the winner. In the first round, Thomas goes first, then Jenna, and then Maria,a nd none of them drwasa red tile. What is the probability that Thomas will win the game on his second turn?
Answer by Edwin McCravy(20060)   (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website! Thomas, Jenna, and Maria are playing a game. They have a bag that contains 42 white tiles and 4 red tiles. Each player takes turns picking a tile at random and does not return the tiles to the bag. The player who draws a red tile first is the winner. In the first round, Thomas goes first, then Jenna, and then Maria,a nd none of them drwasa red tile. What is the probability that Thomas will win the game on his second turn?
Thomas goes first, draws a white tile, leaving 41 white tiles and 4 red tiles.
Jenna goes second, draws a white tile, leaving 40 white tiles and 4 red tiles.
Maria goes third, draws a white tile, leaving 39 white tiles and 4 red tiles.
Thomas goes again, and there are 4 red tiles and 39 white tiles, so that's 43
tiles in the bag, and he has 4 chances out of those 43 to draw a red one, so
his probability is  of winning on his second turn.
Edwin
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