SOLUTION: 1.  You have 8 pairs of socks in the dryer. Only one pair is black. You randomly choose two of the socks. What is the probability that you got both of the black socks?

Algebra ->  Test -> SOLUTION: 1.  You have 8 pairs of socks in the dryer. Only one pair is black. You randomly choose two of the socks. What is the probability that you got both of the black socks?       Log On


   

Question 597600: 1.  You have 8 pairs of socks in the dryer. Only one pair is black. You randomly choose two of the socks. What is the probability that you got both of the black socks?
Answer by math-vortex(648) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Hi, there--
.
You have 16 socks in the dryer. Two of them are the ones you are interested in. Assume that every sock has an equal chance of being picked (no peeking!)
.
The probability of getting a black sock on the first turn is 2/16=1/8.
.
Now there are 15 socks in the dryer, and only one of them is black. (You already picked the other one!)
.
The probability of getting a black sock on the second turn is 1/15.
.
So the probability of drawing a pair of black socks out of the dryer is
%281%2F8%29%2A%281%2F15%29=1%2F120
.
Hope that helps!