Question

A box contains

4

plain pencils and
4

pens. A second box contains
5

color pencils and
7

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

1. You have 3 chances in 12 of picking a pencil ===> 3/12 = 1/4

2 You have 5 chances in 8 of picking a colored pencil ===> 5/8

3. The probability of doing both is the product of the two ===> 1/4 * 5/8 = 5/32