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A basket contains 3 blue marbles, 3 red marbles, and 3 yellow marbles. If 3 marbles are extracted from the basket at random, what is the probability that a marble of each color is among the extracted? (A) \frac{2}{21}(B) \frac{3}{25}(C) \frac{1}{6}(D) \frac{9}{28}(E) \frac{11}{24} Source: GMAT Club Tests - hardest GMAT questions We can assume that the marbles are extracted from the basket one by one. After the first marble is drawn, 6 of the 8 marbles left in the basket have color which is different from the color of the first marble. Therefore, the probability that the color of the second marble will be different from the color of the first is 6/8. After two different-colored marbles are extracted from the basket, we are left with 7 marbles 3 of which have color which is different from the color of either of the first two marbles. Therefore, the probability that the color of the third marble will be different from the color of the first two is 3/7. Thus, the answer to the question is \frac{6}{8} * \frac{3}{7} = \frac{9}{28} . I see how to answer this question using probabilities as explained in the answer but I was hoping someone would be willing to explain how to answer this question using a combination formula.
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snowy2009 wrote: A basket contains 3 blue marbles, 3 red marbles, and 3 yellow marbles. If 3 marbles are extracted from the basket at random, what is the probability that a marble of each color is among the extracted?
(C) 2008 GMAT Club - m15#18
* \frac{2}{21}
* \frac{3}{25}
* \frac{1}{6}
* \frac{9}{28}
* \frac{11}{24}
We can assume that the marbles are extracted from the basket one by one. After the first marble is drawn, 6 of the 8 marbles left in the basket have color which is different from the color of the first marble. Therefore, the probability that the color of the second marble will be different from the color of the first is 6/8. After two different-colored marbles are extracted from the basket, we are left with 7 marbles 3 of which have color which is different from the color of either of the first two marbles. Therefore, the probability that the color of the third marble will be different from the color of the first two is 3/7. Thus, the answer to the question is \frac{6}{8} * \frac{3}{7} = \frac{9}{28} .
I see how to answer this question using probabilities as explained in the answer but I was hoping someone would be willing to explain how to answer this question using a combination formula. = (9c1/9c1) (6c1/8c1) (3c1/7c1) = 1 (6/8) (3/7) = 9/28
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(3C1 * 3C1 * 3C1) / 9C3
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scthakur wrote: (3C1 * 3C1 * 3C1) / 9C3 Why are the combinations in the numerator multiplied with each other?
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snowy2009 wrote: scthakur wrote: (3C1 * 3C1 * 3C1) / 9C3 Why are the combinations in the numerator multiplied with each other? This is because we have to find the probability of 3 events combined: 1 blue AND 1 red AND 1 yellow. Hope this helps.
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snowy2009 wrote: A basket contains 3 blue marbles, 3 red marbles, and 3 yellow marbles. If 3 marbles are extracted from the basket at random, what is the probability that a marble of each color is among the extracted? (A) \frac{2}{21}(B) \frac{3}{25}(C) \frac{1}{6}(D) \frac{9}{28}(E) \frac{11}{24} Source: GMAT Club Tests - hardest GMAT questions We can assume that the marbles are extracted from the basket one by one. After the first marble is drawn, 6 of the 8 marbles left in the basket have color which is different from the color of the first marble. Therefore, the probability that the color of the second marble will be different from the color of the first is 6/8. After two different-colored marbles are extracted from the basket, we are left with 7 marbles 3 of which have color which is different from the color of either of the first two marbles. Therefore, the probability that the color of the third marble will be different from the color of the first two is 3/7. Thus, the answer to the question is \frac{6}{8} * \frac{3}{7} = \frac{9}{28} . I see how to answer this question using probabilities as explained in the answer but I was hoping someone would be willing to explain how to answer this question using a combination formula. p = (3c1*3c1*3c1)/9c3 = 9/28 hence D.
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Sorry, how is (3c1*3c1*3c1)/9c3 = 9/28. I keep getting 9/84? 3c1 cubed is 9. Why is 9c3 28? I am sure it has to do with order or something or am I just missing something? Thanks in advance. Edit:  Crap because 3 cubed is not 9. 27/84 == 9/28. I really hope I don't make stupid mistakes like this on the 17th when I take the test. (It is taking some will power not to edit my question above.)
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Out of 3 blue marbles, 3 red marbles, and 3 yellow marbles, probability of selecting one marble of each color is as follows:
B R Y
(3/9) * (3/8) * (3/7)
B, R, and Y can be arranged in factorial (3) = 3 * 2 * 1 ways.
Thus, resulting probability is:
(3/9) * (3/8) * (3/7) * (3 * 2 * 1) = 9/28
D is the answer.
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3/9 * 3/8 * 3/7 * 3! = 9/28
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I'm still a bit confused. I got the denominator correct (9C3), which enumerates all the possible outcomes. But I only see 6 (3!) desired outcomes...not 27: BRY BYR YRB YBR RBY RYB What am I missing? EDIT: I think this is only taking into account only one of three of each color...i.e. B1 Y1 R1, etc. Let me know if I am right!
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I did this one already but again I got it wrong.
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(3C1 * 3C1 * 3C1)/9C3 D is the right answer.
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dzyubam wrote: snowy2009 wrote: scthakur wrote: (3C1 * 3C1 * 3C1) / 9C3 Why are the combinations in the numerator multiplied with each other? This is because we have to find the probability of 3 events combined: 1 blue AND 1 red AND 1 yellow. Hope this helps. Please explain why we have written 9C3 in the denominator.
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The faster way to calculate the probability is to follow events manually:
1. The first marble will be of any one color. Probability (P1) is 100% or 1;
2. The second marble should be of other two colors (any of 6 out of 8 remaining marbles). Probability (P2) is 6/8 or 3/4;
3. The third marble should be of the last color (any of 3 out of 7 remaining marbles). Probability (P3) is 3/7;
P=P1*P2*P3=1*3/4*3/7=9/28
Answer is D
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snowy2009 wrote: A basket contains 3 blue marbles, 3 red marbles, and 3 yellow marbles. If 3 marbles are extracted from the basket at random, what is the probability that a marble of each color is among the extracted? (A) \frac{2}{21}(B) \frac{3}{25}(C) \frac{1}{6}(D) \frac{9}{28}(E) \frac{11}{24} Source: GMAT Club Tests - hardest GMAT questions We can assume that the marbles are extracted from the basket one by one. After the first marble is drawn, 6 of the 8 marbles left in the basket have color which is different from the color of the first marble. Therefore, the probability that the color of the second marble will be different from the color of the first is 6/8. After two different-colored marbles are extracted from the basket, we are left with 7 marbles 3 of which have color which is different from the color of either of the first two marbles. Therefore, the probability that the color of the third marble will be different from the color of the first two is 3/7. Thus, the answer to the question is \frac{6}{8} * \frac{3}{7} = \frac{9}{28} . I see how to answer this question using probabilities as explained in the answer but I was hoping someone would be willing to explain how to answer this question using a combination formula. Got D!!! First Draw - (9 marbles/ 9 marbles) = 1 Second Draw - Since one color is selected & we dont want that same one again... (6 marbles/ 8 remaining marbles) = 3/4 Third Draw - Since two colors are selected & we dont want the same ones again... (3 marbles/ 7 remaining marbles) = 3/7 Multiply all three to get the probability... 1 * (3/4) * (3/7) = 9/28
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For first ball...we can pick any one out of nine..(lets say first is blue)
For second ball of different color...we have choose one ball out of 8 balls
and color of ball should not blue..it may be of red or yellow color...
so probability is 6(3 red and 3 yellow)/8...(lets say we pick a red one here)
For third ball of different color...we have choose one ball out of 7 balls
and color of ball should yellow..
so probability is 3 (yellow)/7
So probability that a marble of each color is among the extracted
= \frac{6}{8}*\frac{3}{7}
= \frac{9}{28}
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snowy2009 wrote: A basket contains 3 blue marbles, 3 red marbles, and 3 yellow marbles. If 3 marbles are extracted from the basket at random, what is the probability that a marble of each color is among the extracted? (A) \frac{2}{21}(B) \frac{3}{25}(C) \frac{1}{6}(D) \frac{9}{28}(E) \frac{11}{24} Source: GMAT Club Tests - hardest GMAT questions We can assume that the marbles are extracted from the basket one by one. After the first marble is drawn, 6 of the 8 marbles left in the basket have color which is different from the color of the first marble. Therefore, the probability that the color of the second marble will be different from the color of the first is 6/8. After two different-colored marbles are extracted from the basket, we are left with 7 marbles 3 of which have color which is different from the color of either of the first two marbles. Therefore, the probability that the color of the third marble will be different from the color of the first two is 3/7. Thus, the answer to the question is \frac{6}{8} * \frac{3}{7} = \frac{9}{28} . I see how to answer this question using probabilities as explained in the answer but I was hoping someone would be willing to explain how to answer this question using a combination formula. A. \frac{2}{21}B. \frac{3}{25}C. \frac{1}{6}D. \frac{9}{28}E. \frac{11}{24} P=\frac{C^1_3*C^1_3*C^1_3}{C^3_9}=\frac{9}{28}. Numerator represents ways to select 1 blue marble out of 3, 1 red marble out of 3 and 1 yellow marble out of 3. Denominator represents total ways to select 3 marbles out of 9. Answer: D.
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snowy2009 wrote: scthakur wrote: (3C1 * 3C1 * 3C1) / 9C3 Why are the combinations in the numerator multiplied with each other? So as a basic with Combinations, if we have an event 1 (3C1 - 1 blue ball extracted) followed by event 2 (3C1 - 1 red ball extracted) and event 3 (3C1 - 1 yellow ball extracted), we have to multiply all events. Instead if this was a case of 'OR', we would have added the events. Hope that helped. Can someone tell me what is the difficulty level of this question?
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