Question 446250:  8 blue socks, 4 green socks, 2 white socks in a drawer. What is the probability that you will pull out 2 socks of the same color? 
 Answer by stanbon(75887)      (Show Source): 
You can  put this solution on YOUR website! 8 blue socks, 4 green socks, 2 white socks in a drawer. What is the probability that you will pull out 2 socks of the same color? 
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There are 14C2 = 7*13 = 91 pairs possible. 
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There are 8*4= 32 blue/green pairs 
There are 8*2 = 16 blue/white pairs 
There are 4*2 = 8 green/white pairs 
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Total # of mixed color pairs = (32+16+9) = 56 
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# of same color pairs is 91-56 = 35 
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P(same color pair) = 35/91 
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Another way to work it: 
# of same color pairs = (8C2+4C2+2C2) = 28+6+1 = 35 
Total # of pairs 14C2 = 91 
P(same color pair) = 35/91 
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Cheers, 
Stan H. 
 
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