Question

Kim has three pair of gloves in a drawer. If he takes out two gloves at random, what is the probability that they will be a matched pair?

Answer 1

2/6 or 1/3

Answer 2

there are 6 gloves in total. 2 random gloves would be 2/6 or simplified to 1/3

Answer 3

... I disagree.
Think of the problem this way. It doesn't matter which kind of glove he pulls out first. He then has to match that glove. And the probability of him matching the glove he pulls out first is 1/5 because there are five gloves left in the drawer and only one matches it.

Answer 4

Another way to see it is that there are 6 gloves, and he's choosing 2. So that means there are 6choose2 ways for him to pick. 6choose2 is 15. Now how many ways are there for him to choose a matching pair? There are only 3 pairs, so each pair is one way. So the likelihood is 3/15 = 1/5.

Answer 5

Now that I've thought about it, I think matched pair just means a right and a left glove.

Answer 6

So, won't there be a probability of choosing the correct match of 3/5?

Answer 7

Hmmm. Could be...

Answer 8

Yes. 3/5 if that's what the question is asking.

Answer 9

No wait. 2/5

Answer 10

Thanks for the confirmation. And thanks for correcting that first answer. Not sure how it got a medal.

Answer 11

Oh yeah. 3.

Answer 12

If I pull a left glove, then there are 3 right gloves to match it out of 5 remaining.

Answer 13

Yeah, who the heck gives that a medal? Sad story.