Question

A jewelry box contains two gold hoop earrings and two silver hoop earrings. You randomly choose two earrings. What is the probability that both are silver hoop earrings? (Round to the nearest whole percent)

Answer 1

17%

Explanation:

The number of gold hoop earrings = 2

The number of silver hoop earrings = 2

Total number of earrings = 2+2 =4

If two earrings are selected at random:

`\begin{gathered} \text{P}(\text{ the first is a silver hoop earring\rparen}=(2)/(4) \\ P(\text{the second is a silver hoop earring\rparen}=(1)/(3) \end{gathered}`

Therefore,multiply the two probabilities:

`\begin{gathered} =(2)/(4)*(1)/(3) \\ =(2)/(12) \\ =(1)/(6) \\ =0.1667 \\ =16.67\% \\ \approx17\% \end{gathered}`

The probability that both are silver hoop earrings is 17% (rounded to the nearest whole percent).