Question

A bag contains 10 red pens, 15 blue pens, and 20 black pens. Joseph will pull a pen from the bag.

If Joseph pulls a red pen from the bag and he keeps the pen, is the probability of him selecting another red pen after a second pull an independent or dependent event? Explain.

Answer 1

Answer: Hello!

Explanation:

If no one can do it, I'll try.

This scenario is an example of dependent probabilities because the outcome of the second draw depends on what happened during the first draw. Specifically, if Joseph drew a red pen during the first draw, then there are fewer red pens remaining in the bag than before the first draw. As a result, the probability of drawing a red pen during the second draw decreases relative to the initial probability, assuming all pens were equally likely to be drawn initially. If the first pull didn't remove any pens from the bag, then the second pull is an independent event, and the probability remains unchanged.

In summary, whether the second event is independent or dependent depends on how many red pens remain in the bag after the first draw.

Answer 2

I can solve it, but you'll have to find out, because it's your homework, if it is an independent or dependent event:

9/(9 + 15 + 20) --> because we want to know chances of a red pen (qty 9)

9/(24 + 20)

9/44

0.2045454..., approx. 0.2045, or 20.45%