Question

A box contains 5 plain pencils and 7 pens. A second box contains 4 color pencils and 4

crayons. One item from each box is chosen at random. What is the probability that a pen from the first box and a crayon from the second box are selected?
Write your answer as a fraction in simplest form.

Answer 1

5:7 (pencils to pens)

7/12 chance that a pen from the first box will be selected.

4:4 (colour pencils to crayons)

4/8 = 1/2 chance that a crayon from the second box will be selected.

The probability of picking both:

7/12 * 1/2 = 8/24 = 1/3