Question

A box contains 12 red balls and 18 blue balls. If a ball is selected at random, what is the probability that it is red?

• A. 2/5
• B. 3/5
• C. 1/2
• D. 1/3

Hint:

In probability questions, always start by finding the total number of possible outcomes. This forms the denominator of your probability fraction. Then, find the number of outcomes that match the specific event you're interested in for the numerator.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Probability is the measure of the likelihood of an event occurring. It is calculated as the ratio of the number of favorable outcomes to the total number of possible outcomes.
Step 2: Key Formula or Approach:
Probability(Event) = \(\frac{\text{Number of Favorable Outcomes}}{\text{Total Number of Possible Outcomes}}\)
Step 3: Detailed Explanation:
First, identify the number of favorable outcomes. The event is selecting a red ball.
- Number of red balls (favorable outcomes) = 12
Next, calculate the total number of possible outcomes. This is the total number of balls in the box.
- Total number of balls = (Number of red balls) + (Number of blue balls)
- Total number of balls = 12 + 18 = 30
Now, calculate the probability of selecting a red ball:
\[ P(\text{Red}) = \frac{12}{30} \] Finally, simplify the fraction:
\[ P(\text{Red}) = \frac{12 \div 6}{30 \div 6} = \frac{2}{5} \] Step 4: Final Answer:
The probability that the selected ball is red is 2/5. This corresponds to option (A). (Note: The options in the original document were garbled, but the numerical answer corresponds to 2/5).