Adam has 4 dimes, 4 quarters and 4 nickels in his pocket. He pulls out 2 coins making sure to put the first one back in his pocket before picking the second. What are the odds that he pulls out 2 nickels?
A.1/3
B.1/16
C.1/9
D.1/81

Question

Adam has 4 dimes, 4 quarters and 4 nickels in his pocket. He pulls out 2 coins making sure to put the first one back in his pocket before picking the second. What are the odds that he pulls out 2 nickels?
A.1/3
B.1/16
C.1/9
D.1/81

mertsj · Answer

Well, the probability is 4/12 times 4/12 or 1/3 times 1/3 or 1/9 But i am not sure about the odds.  Odds is favorable over unfavorable, isn't it?

anonymous · Answer

yeah....

anonymous · Answer

so the odds are  1/9 to 8/9  which is 1:8 odds

mertsj · Answer

That is not one of the choices.

anonymous · Answer

I think it might be 1/9

anonymous · Answer

but i want to be positive... .its got me stuck

mertsj · Answer

Well how are we going to know?

anonymous · Answer

exactly

mertsj · Answer

I think maybe we need to know how many possible outcomes there are and how many of them are favorable ie 2 nickels and then put the favorable over the unfavorable.

mertsj · Answer

So I guess there are 12 times 12 or 144 outcomes.  Would you agree?

anonymous · Answer

yes id agree with that....

mertsj · Answer

And would it be 4 times 4 or 16 favorable?

anonymous · Answer

16 would be my guess

mertsj · Answer

And then we are back to 16 favorable over 128 unfavorable which is 1 to 8 which is not a choice  unless you made a typo and that 1/81 is really supposed to be 1/8

mertsj · Answer

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