First of all we have 60 siblings pairs, so there are 60 siblings in junior class and 60 siblings in senior class.

Next: the question ask "what is the probability that the 2 students selected will be a sibling pair", so the probability that they will be siblings of each other.

Back to the question:

A certain junior class has 1000 students and a certain senior class has 800 students. Among these students, there are 60 siblings pairs each consisting of 1 junior and 1 senior. If 1 student is to be selected at random from each class, what is the probability that the 2 students selected will be a sibling pair?

A. 3/40000
B. 1/3600
C. 9/2000
D. 1/60
E. 1/15

There are 60 siblings in junior class and 60 their pair siblings in the senior class. We want to determine probability of choosing one sibling from junior class and its pair from senior.

What is the probability of choosing ANY sibling from junior class? \frac{60}{1000} (as there are 60 of them).

What is the probability of choosing PAIR OF CHOSEN SIBLING in senior class? As in senior class there is only one pair of chosen sibling it would be \frac{1}{800} (as there is only one sibling pair of chosen one).

So the probability of that the 2 students selected will be a sibling pair is: \frac{60}{1000}*\frac{1}{800}=\frac{3}{40000}

Answer: A.

This problem can be solved in another way:

In how many ways we can choose 1 person from 1000: C^1_{1000}=1000;
In how many ways we can choose 1 person from 800: C^1_{800}=800;
So total # of ways of choosing 1 from 1000 and 1 from 800 is C^1_{1000}*C^1_{800}=1000*800 --> this is total # of outcomes.

Let’s count favorable outcomes: 1 from 60 - C^1_{60}=60;
The pair of the one chosen: C^1_1=1
So total # of favorable outcomes is C^1_{60}*C^1_1=60

Probability=\frac{# \ of \ favorable \ outcomes}{Total \ # \ of \ outcomes}=\frac{60}{1000*800}=\frac{3}{40000}.

Answer: A.

Hope it helps.
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217) A certain junior class has 1,000 students and a certain senior class has 800 students.among these students, there are 60 sibling pairs, each consisting of 1 junior and 1 senior. if 1 student is to be selected at random from each class, what is the probability that the 2 students selected will be a sibling pair.

a) 3/40,0000
b) 1/3600
c) 9/2000
d) 1/60
e) 1/15


Probability to select one senior student who is sibling is 60/800
Probability to select one junior student who is sibling is 60/1000

As both the events are independent and should happen
we ill multiply the two probabilities 60/800 * 60/1000 = 9/2000

Pls tell me the error in my solution
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The proof of understanding is the ability to explain it.

If probability of selecting one senior student is 60/800
Probability of selecting the matching pair from the junior students becomes 1/1000

Think it like this;
You have successfully chosen 1 sibling of sibling pairs from the senior students.
Now; when you start choosing from the juniors; you just have 1 favorable outcome. Because; out of these 1000 students, there is only 1, just ONE student who is the paired sibling of the student you earlier chose from the senior students. Got it?

So; the total probability becomes = 60/800*1/1000 = 3/40000.

Ans: "A"

I believe there was a similar post yesterday. Also; this particular question is also discussed elsewhere. Guess this post is going to be short lived.
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i had also missed the "pairs" word
so I had 30 pairs and 60 siblings...

thanks for the explanations bunuel

A certain junior class has 1000 students and a certain senior class has 800 students.Among these students there are 60 sibling pairs, each consisting of 1 junior and 1 senior. If 1 student is to be selected at random from each class, what is the probability that the 2 students selected will be a sibling pair ?

(A) 3/40,000 (B) 1/3600 (C) 9/2000 (D) 1/60 (E) 1/15

OA is A. Can someone provide the solution?

Merging similar topics. Please ask if anything remains unclear.
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PS: 1. Tough and Tricky questions; 2. Hard questions; 3. Hard questions part 2; 4. Standard deviation; 5. Tough Problem Solving Questions With Solutions; 6. Probability and Combinations Questions With Solutions; 7 Tough and tricky exponents and roots questions; 8 12 Easy Pieces (or not?); 9 Bakers' Dozen; 10 Algebra set. NEW!!!

DS: 1. DS tough questions; 2. DS tough questions part 2; 3. DS tough questions part 3; 4. DS Standard deviation; 5. Inequalities; 6. 700+ GMAT Data Sufficiency Questions With Explanations; 7 Tough and tricky exponents and roots questions; 8 The Discreet Charm of the DS ; 9 Devil's Dozen!!!; 10 Number Properties set. NEW!!!


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Anyone please clear my doubt. I have a similar ques
A bag has 6 red marbles and 4 marbles. What are the chances of pulling out a red and blue marble.
Method 1: # of ways of picking 1 red and 1 blue marble = (6c1)(4c1) = 6 x 4 = 24;
# of ways of picking 2 marbles in general = 10c2 = 45.
therefore, probability = 24/45
Method 2: Total prob = prob ( R then B) + P (B then R)
6 ways for red and 4 ways for blue = 24
total ways = 10*9
Prob ( R then B) = 24/90

||ly Prob ( B then R) = 24/90 Therfore total = 24/45