Question

A purse contains three $5 bills, four $10 bills, and two $20 bills. Two bills are selected without the first selection being replaced. Find the P($5,$5).

Answer 1

To find the probability of picking a five dollar bill and then another five dollar bill, you will find the chance of picking a five dollar bill the first time, and multiply by the probability of picking another one the second time.

There is a 3 out of 9 chance the first time because there are 3 - $5 dollar bills, and 9 total bills.

The second time there will be a 2 out of 8 chance, because if you picked a $5 dollar bill the first time, there should be 2 - $5 bills left and 8 total bills.

3/9 x 2/8 or 1/3 x 1/4 = 1/12 chance.