Question

The birth of octuplets is no small matter, but Mrs. Fyodor Vassilyev of Shuya, Russia (1707-1782) gave birth to 16 sets of twins, in addition to 7 sets of triplets, and 4 sets of quadruplets. She gave birth to a total of 69 children. (None of these children were conceived with fertility drugs, either.) What is the probability that one of her 69 children, selected at random, was not a twin, triplet or quadruplet?

Answer 1

Answer: Zero

Explanation:

Number of children who were born as twins = 16 × 2 = 32

Number of children who were born as triplets = 7 × 3 = 21

Number of children who were born as quadruplets = 4 × 4 = 16

Total number of children born = 32 + 21 = 16 = 69

Number of children born who were not a twin, triplet or quadruplet = 0

Probability of children was not a twin, triplet or quadruplet =
`(0)/(69)=0`

Hence, the probability is zero.