Question

A bag contains 24 balls of which x are red, 2x are white and 3x are blue. A ball is selected at random. What is the probability that it is not red?

Answer 1

Given that, A bag contains total number of balls = 24

A bag contains number of red balls = x

A bag contains number of white balls = 2x

And a bag contains number of blue balls = 3x

By condition, x + 2x + 3x = 24

⇒ 6x = 24

∴ x = 4

∴ Number of red balls = x = 4

Number of white balls = 2x = 2 × 4 = 8

And number of blue balls = 3x = 3 × 4 = 12

So, total number of outcomes for a ball is selected at random in a bag contains 24 balls.

⇒ n(S) = 24

Let E₁ = Event of selecting a ball which is not red i.e., can be white or blue.

∴ n(E₁) = Number of white balls + Number of blue balls

 ⇒ n(E₁) = 8 + 12 = 20

∴ Required probability = `(n(E_1))/(n(S)) = 20/24 = 5/6`