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Mathematics 9 Online
OpenStudy (anonymous):

8 men and 6 women arrive separately in a random fashion to a meeting. What is the probability that the first 4 people to show up are men? I feel like i can't break this down

jimthompson5910 (jim_thompson5910):

What is the probability that the first person to show up is a man

OpenStudy (anonymous):

8/14 right

jimthompson5910 (jim_thompson5910):

yep, how about the probability that the second person to show up is a man Note: the first man has arrived (assume this is true), so take him out of the equation

OpenStudy (anonymous):

7/13

jimthompson5910 (jim_thompson5910):

how about the third

OpenStudy (anonymous):

6/12 or 1/2 so I just do that till I get to the forth man?

jimthompson5910 (jim_thompson5910):

you can use either one, 1/2 might be easier to use but 6/12 helps you see the overall pattern

jimthompson5910 (jim_thompson5910):

yes you keep going until you reach the fourth one

jimthompson5910 (jim_thompson5910):

once you get all your fractions, you multiply them out this works because each event is independent from one another

OpenStudy (anonymous):

5/11 then im multiplying that times something right

jimthompson5910 (jim_thompson5910):

yes

jimthompson5910 (jim_thompson5910):

so you have these four fractions 8/14 7/13 6/12 5/11 then you multiply them all out to get ????

OpenStudy (anonymous):

5/11 x 8/14?

jimthompson5910 (jim_thompson5910):

multiply all 4 though

OpenStudy (anonymous):

that was so easy thanks again 10/143

jimthompson5910 (jim_thompson5910):

yep you got it

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