Question

if two parents have 6 children what is the probability that they will have exactly 5 daughters and one son? (assume that boys and girls are equally alike) show your work.​

Answer 1

1−0.03125=0.96875

Explanation:

The probability of having a male or female child is equal (0.5).

So having your first child means you have a 50% chance of a male. Your second child being male also will have a probability of

0.5x0.5=0.25 .

The only scenario in which a couple with five children do not have at least one son is if all five children are female.

So the pribability of having five females is 0.55=0.03125

So if every other scenario means the couple have at least one son, and the total probability of an event is 1, we can find the probability of having at least one son with

1−0.03125=0.96875