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Manager
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This is a repost of a Challenge question (Challenge 3, Q 26) posted several weeks back for which I have no response so far.
Store with 10 bottles of alcohol, of which 7 whiskeys.
If 6 bottles are sold, what is the prob of selling 4 whiskeys among the 6?
Given solution:
(7C4)(3C2)/(10C6) = 1/2
It seems to me that this solution assumes that 4 and only 4 whiskeys are sold. But the question doesn't exactly say that. The way the question is worded, it doesn't specify that the other 2 bottles that are sold are not whiskeys. Hence, it seems to me that we should calculate probability that atleast 4 whiskeys are sold. This gives (7C4)(6C2)/(10C6) = 5/8 as the answer (bcoz there are 6 (not 3) choices from which to pick the remaining two). Is this correct? If not, how to solve?
I am not a probability guru and would appreciate the opinion of a subject expert - since I am a little confused by this question/answer and am not sure if am on the right track.,. thanks!
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Senior Manager
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oops wrote: This is a repost of a Challenge question (Challenge 3, Q 26) posted several weeks back for which I have no response so far.
Store with 10 bottles of alcohol, of which 7 whiskeys.
If 6 bottles are sold, what is the prob of selling 4 whiskeys among the 6?
Given solution:
(7C4)(3C2)/(10C6) = 1/2
It seems to me that this solution assumes that 4 and only 4 whiskeys are sold. But the question doesn't exactly say that. The way the question is worded, it doesn't specify that the other 2 bottles that are sold are not whiskeys. Hence, it seems to me that we should calculate probability that atleast 4 whiskeys are sold. This gives (7C4)(6C2)/(10C6) = 5/8 as the answer (bcoz there are 6 (not 3) choices from which to pick the remaining two). Is this correct? If not, how to solve?
I am not a probability guru and would appreciate the opinion of a subject expert - since I am a little confused by this question/answer and am not sure if am on the right track.,. thanks!
Well your method is correct when the question stem says that there should be atlease 4 whiskey bottels among the bottels that are sold. well the question stem very specifically mentions that there should be 4 bottels of whiskeys and hence the given solution is correct. I am not a probability guru as well but I hope this will help.
Javed.
Cheers!
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Director
Joined: 13 Mar 2007
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well, even by going with the assumption of 'atleast' 4 bottles of whiskey.
Should'nt this be the way it needs to be solved ?
p(4W) + p(5w) + p(6w) ?
=> 7c4.3c2/10c6 + 7c5.3c1/10c6 + 7c6/10c6 ?
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Manager
Joined: 28 Feb 2007
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oops wrote: This is a repost of a Challenge question (Challenge 3, Q 26) posted several weeks back for which I have no response so far.
Store with 10 bottles of alcohol, of which 7 whiskeys.
If 6 bottles are sold, what is the prob of selling 4 whiskeys among the 6?
Given solution:
(7C4)(3C2)/(10C6) = 1/2
It seems to me that this solution assumes that 4 and only 4 whiskeys are sold. But the question doesn't exactly say that. The way the question is worded, it doesn't specify that the other 2 bottles that are sold are not whiskeys. Hence, it seems to me that we should calculate probability that atleast 4 whiskeys are sold. This gives (7C4)(6C2)/(10C6) = 5/8 as the answer (bcoz there are 6 (not 3) choices from which to pick the remaining two). Is this correct? If not, how to solve?
I am not a probability guru and would appreciate the opinion of a subject expert - since I am a little confused by this question/answer and am not sure if am on the right track.,. thanks!
Probability questions are very specific on at least, at most etc. Question specifies that 4 whiskey bottles were sold. since there is no at least I would go with the given explanation. My 2 cents. (Btw, I took probability in both undergrad and grad school so I can say that i have seen reasonably good number of P questions)
hth.
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GMAT Club Legend
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Number of ways of picking 6 bottles from 10 = 10C6 = 210
Number of ways of picking 4 bottles of whiskey from 7 = 7C4.
Number of ways of picking 2 other bottles of alcohol = 3C2
So P = (3C2 * 7C4)/10C6
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GMAT Club Legend
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the question says 4 whiskeys are sold. It does not assume only 4 are sold because the question clearly states that (only 4 are sold).
If it meant anything else, it would state with phrases like 'at least'.
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Manager
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ywilfred wrote: the question says 4 whiskeys are sold. It does not assume only 4 are sold because the question clearly states that (only 4 are sold).
If it meant anything else, it would state with phrases like 'at least'.
question doesn't say "only" - hence the confusion.
but you may be right in that if it means "atleast" or something else, it'll be specified.
this confusion originally came from a set theory question where if it doesn't say "18% watch exactly 2" or "only 2" in the below problem, the answer would be different - hence, i try to look for "only" or "exactly" to be clearly specified in the question.
http://www.gmatclub.com/phpbb/viewtopic ... rmontville
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close
