Question

Two balls are selected at random one by one without replacement from a bag containing 4 white and 6 black balls. If the probability that the first selected ball is black, given that the second selected ball is also black, is \(\frac{m}{n}\), where gcd(m, n) = 1, then m + n is equal to:

• A. 14
• B. 4
• C. 11
• D. 13

Hint:

Remember the formula for conditional probability: \(P(A|B) = \frac{P(A \cap B)}{P(B)}\).

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

To solve the problem, we need to find the probability \(P(A|B)\), where event \(A\) is that the first ball is black, and event \(B\) is that the second ball is black. The probability formula for conditional probability is:

\[ P(A|B) = \frac{P(A \cap B)}{P(B)} \] 

Step 1: Find \(P(A \cap B)\).

The probability that the first ball is black and the second ball is also black can be calculated by considering the following:

• Number of ways to select the first black ball: 6 (out of 10 total balls).
• After selecting the first black ball, 5 black balls remain (and 9 total balls).
• Number of ways to select the second black ball: 5 (out of 9 total balls).

Therefore:

\[ P(A \cap B) = \frac{6}{10} \times \frac{5}{9} = \frac{30}{90} = \frac{1}{3} \]

Step 2: Find \(P(B)\).

\(P(B)\) is the probability that the second ball is black regardless of the color of the first ball. Consider the two scenarios:

• First ball is black (probability): \[ \frac{6}{10} \]
  • If first ball is black, probability that second is black: \[ \frac{5}{9} \]
• First ball is white (probability): \[ \frac{4}{10} \]
  • If first ball is white, probability that second is black: \[ \frac{6}{9} \]

Thus:

\[ P(B) = \left(\frac{6}{10} \times \frac{5}{9}\right) + \left(\frac{4}{10} \times \frac{6}{9}\right) = \frac{30}{90} + \frac{24}{90} = \frac{54}{90} = \frac{3}{5} \]

Step 3: Calculate \(P(A|B)\).

Using the conditional probability formula:

\[ P(A|B) = \frac{P(A \cap B)}{P(B)} = \frac{\frac{1}{3}}{\frac{3}{5}} = \frac{1}{3} \times \frac{5}{3} = \frac{5}{9} \]

With gcd(5, 9) = 1, the fraction \(\frac{m}{n}\) is in its simplest form with \(m = 5\) and \(n = 9\). Hence, \(m + n\) equals \(14\).