5 White Socks and 3 Black socks are in a drawer. I take out two socks. What is the probability the socks are the same colour?

Problem Tackles: Counting Probabilities, Non-replacement probability problems. Keeping track of events
Total number of socks: 5 + 3 = 8Scenarios: Could pick two white socks or two black socksP(Picking two white Socks) = 5/8 * 4/7 = 20/56 . (Number of socks after first pick is 7, number of white socks left is 4)P (Picking two Black socks) = 3/8 *2/7 = 6/56 (same idea as above)P(picking two socks of same colour) = P(Picking two white socks) + P(Picking two black socks) = 6/56 + 20/56 = 26/56

BS
Answered by Bonnor S. Maths tutor

6988 Views

See similar Maths GCSE tutors

Related Maths GCSE answers

All answers ▸

A box contains an assortment of 100 coloured marbles, coloured red, blue and green. The ratio of blue balls to green balls is 1:3. If there are 16 red balls in the box, what is the ratio of red balls to green balls, and red balls to blue balls?


Solve: a) 5t + 17 = 2. b) x^3 - 25 = 103 - x^3.


Work out the value of 2^4


Solve 3x+7=1.


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2026 by IXL Learning