How Do You Calculate the Probability of Drawing Two Red Balls from an Urn?

In summary, The probability of drawing two red balls from an urn containing 3 red balls and 2 white balls without replacement is represented by the fraction 3C2/5C2, which is the number of ways to choose two red balls from the total number of ways to choose two balls from the urn. The sample space contains all distinct ways of choosing two of the five balls, with 5C2 elements. The event of drawing two red balls has 3C2 elements, representing the number of distinct ways of choosing two of the three red balls. The events R_1 and R_2 are not disjoint, as they both involve the same two balls being chosen.
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Hi, if in an urn there are 3 red balls and 2 white balls and we draw 2 balls from the urn without replacement.
If we assume that at each ball in the urn is equally likely to be chosen, what is the probability that both balls are red?

I know the solution is [tex] \frac{\binom{3}{2}}{\binom{5}{2}}[/tex], but i want to show the elements of the sample space, for example are they the elements: [tex]r_1, r_2, r_3, w_1, w_2[/tex]?
If i split the events in two disjoint events as R_1={the first ball is red} and R_{the second ball is red} what are the elements of these sets?
 
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  • #2
R_1 and R_2 are not disjoint.
 
  • #3
The sample space in this question contains all distinct ways of choosing two of the five balls, with 5C2 elements. Your event (in which both balls are red) has 3C2 elements, the number of distinct ways of choosing two of the three red balls.
 

FAQ: How Do You Calculate the Probability of Drawing Two Red Balls from an Urn?

What is probability and how does it relate to balls in an urn?

Probability is a measure of the likelihood that a particular event will occur. In the context of balls in an urn, probability is used to determine the chances of pulling out a specific ball or combination of balls from the urn.

How is the probability of pulling a specific ball from an urn calculated?

The probability of pulling a specific ball from an urn can be calculated by dividing the number of desired outcomes by the total number of possible outcomes. For example, if there are 10 red balls and 20 total balls in an urn, the probability of pulling a red ball would be 10/20 or 1/2.

What is the difference between with replacement and without replacement in probability?

With replacement means that after each draw, the ball is put back into the urn before the next draw. Without replacement means that once a ball is drawn, it is not put back into the urn for the next draw. This difference affects the probability calculation, as the number of possible outcomes changes with each draw.

How does the number of balls in an urn affect probability?

The number of balls in an urn directly affects the probability of pulling a specific ball. As the number of balls increases, the probability of pulling any one specific ball decreases. However, the total number of balls in the urn does not affect the probability of pulling a certain color or type of ball, as long as the ratio of the desired balls remains the same.

How is probability used in real-world scenarios?

Probability is used in a variety of real-world scenarios, such as predicting the outcomes of games and events, assessing risks and making decisions, and analyzing data. It is also used in fields such as finance, insurance, and science to help make informed decisions and predictions based on mathematical principles.

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