Question

A box contains 3 plain pencils and 7 pens. A second box contains 4 color pencils and 4 crayons. One item from each box is chosen at random. What is the probability that a pen from the first box and a crayon from the second box are selected?

Answer 1

The first box has a total of 10 items ( 3 pencils + 7 pens = 10)

The probability of picking a pen would be 7/10

The second box has a total of 8 items ( 4 pencils  + 4 crayons = 8)

The probability of picking a crayon would be 4/18, which reduces to 1/2

To find the probability of doing both, multiply each probability together:

7/10 x 1/2 = 7/20

The probability is 7/20