Question

Poker Chips. A bowl contains 12 poker chips-3 red, 4 white, and 5 blue. If one of these poker chips is selected at random from the bowl, what is the probability that its color is

(a) red? (b). red or white? (c). not white?

Short answer

Part (a)$\frac{1}{4}$

Part (b)$\frac{7}{12}$

Part (c)$\frac{2}{3}$

Step-by-step solution

Part (a) Step 1. Given information.

The given statement is:

A bowl contains 12 poker chips-3 red, 4 white, and 5 blue.

The total number of poker chips is 12.

Part (a) Step 2. The probability that its color is red.

Total poker chips are 12.

Red poker chips are 3.

$P\left(E\right)=\frac{\mathrm{No}.\mathrm{of}\mathrm{favorable}\mathrm{outcome}}{\mathrm{Total}\mathrm{No}.\mathrm{of}\mathrm{outcome}}$

The probability of the color red is:

$$\begin{gathered} =\frac{3}{12} \\ =\frac{1}{4} \end{gathered}$$

Part (b) Step 2. The probability that its color is red or white.

Total poker chips are 12.

Red poker chips are 3 and white are 4.

Then the total poker chips of red or white are 7.

The probability of the color red or white is:

$=\frac{7}{12}$

Part (c) Step 2. The probability that its color is not white.

White poker chips are 4.

And poker chips that are not white are 8.

The probability of the color being a non-white is:

$$\begin{gathered} =\frac{8}{12} \\ =\frac{2}{3} \end{gathered}$$