GMAT Question of the Day: Daily via email | Daily via Instagram New to GMAT Club? Watch this Video

 It is currently 18 Jan 2020, 19:38

### GMAT Club Daily Prep

#### Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

# A hand purse contains 6 nickels, 5 pennies and 4 dimes. What is the pr

Author Message
TAGS:

### Hide Tags

Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Posts: 60480
A hand purse contains 6 nickels, 5 pennies and 4 dimes. What is the pr  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

12 Nov 2019, 06:08
00:00

Difficulty:

35% (medium)

Question Stats:

68% (01:36) correct 32% (02:17) wrong based on 135 sessions

### HideShow timer Statistics

A hand purse contains 6 nickels, 5 pennies and 4 dimes. What is the probability of picking a coin other than a nickel twice in a row if the first coin picked is not put back?

A. 1/7
B. 6/7
C. 13/35
D. 12/35
E. 4/9

Are You Up For the Challenge: 700 Level Questions

_________________
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Aug 2009
Posts: 8341
Re: A hand purse contains 6 nickels, 5 pennies and 4 dimes. What is the pr  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

12 Nov 2019, 06:41
1
Bunuel wrote:
A hand purse contains 6 nickels, 5 pennies and 4 dimes. What is the probability of picking a coin other than a nickel twice in a row if the first coin picked is not put back?

A. 1/7
B. 6/7
C. 13/35
D. 12/35
E. 4/9

Are You Up For the Challenge: 700 Level Questions

The question wordings are a bit confusing..
I) If it means same coin has to be picked up twice....
P of pennies = $$\frac{5}{15}*\frac{4}{14}$$
P of dimes = $$\frac{4}{15}*\frac{3}{14}$$
Total P = $$\frac{5}{15}*\frac{4}{14}+\frac{4}{15}*\frac{3}{14}=[m]32/210$$[/m]
II) If it means any coin except can be picked up ....
P of picking any of the 9 = $$\frac{9}{15}*\frac{8}{14}=\frac{72}{210}=\frac{12}{35}$$

If the choices are seen, it seems case II is meant..
But wordings could have been
A hand purse contains 6 nickels, 5 pennies and 4 dimes. What is the probability of picking a coin other than a nickel twice in a row in each of the two draws if the first coin picked is not put back?

D
_________________
GMAT Club Legend
Joined: 18 Aug 2017
Posts: 5693
Location: India
Concentration: Sustainability, Marketing
GPA: 4
WE: Marketing (Energy and Utilities)
Re: A hand purse contains 6 nickels, 5 pennies and 4 dimes. What is the pr  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

12 Nov 2019, 09:44
1
total coints = 15
P of not nickle = 9/15*8/14 =
12/35
IMO D

Bunuel wrote:
A hand purse contains 6 nickels, 5 pennies and 4 dimes. What is the probability of picking a coin other than a nickel twice in a row if the first coin picked is not put back?

A. 1/7
B. 6/7
C. 13/35
D. 12/35
E. 4/9

Are You Up For the Challenge: 700 Level Questions
Intern
Joined: 26 Oct 2019
Posts: 5
Re: A hand purse contains 6 nickels, 5 pennies and 4 dimes. What is the pr  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

14 Nov 2019, 11:26
PENNIES (P) NICKEL(N) DIME(D)

Total = 15 coins
Nickel = 6
Not Nickel = 9
Probability of taking a coin other than Nickel = 9/15=3/5 ( first withdrawal)
If the coin taken is not replaced....
Probablility of taking a coin other than Nickel = 8/14= 4/7 (2nd withdrawal)

Total probability of drawing a coin other than Nickel in two successive withdrawals= 3/5 * 4/7= 12/35

Ans D
Target Test Prep Representative
Status: Founder & CEO
Affiliations: Target Test Prep
Joined: 14 Oct 2015
Posts: 9052
Location: United States (CA)
Re: A hand purse contains 6 nickels, 5 pennies and 4 dimes. What is the pr  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

24 Nov 2019, 07:20
Bunuel wrote:
A hand purse contains 6 nickels, 5 pennies and 4 dimes. What is the probability of picking a coin other than a nickel twice in a row if the first coin picked is not put back?

A. 1/7
B. 6/7
C. 13/35
D. 12/35
E. 4/9

Are You Up For the Challenge: 700 Level Questions

The probability of picking a coin that is not a nickel, twice in a row, is 9/15 * 8/14 = 3/5 * 4/7 = 12/35.

_________________

# Scott Woodbury-Stewart

Founder and CEO

Scott@TargetTestPrep.com
181 Reviews

5-star rated online GMAT quant
self study course

See why Target Test Prep is the top rated GMAT quant course on GMAT Club. Read Our Reviews

If you find one of my posts helpful, please take a moment to click on the "Kudos" button.

e-GMAT Representative
Joined: 04 Jan 2015
Posts: 3209
A hand purse contains 6 nickels, 5 pennies and 4 dimes. What is the pr  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

24 Nov 2019, 21:20

Solution

Given:
• A hand purse contains 6 nickels, 5 pennies and 4 dimes

To find:
• The probability of picking a coin other than a nickel twice in a row if the first coin picked is not put back

Approach and Working Out:
• Total cases = $$^{15}C_1 * ^{14}C_1$$
• Total favorable cases =$$^9C_1 * ^8C_1$$

Therefore, the required probability = $$9 * \frac{8}{15} * 14 = \frac{12}{35}$$

Hence, the correct answer is Option D.

_________________
EMPOWERgmat Instructor
Status: GMAT Assassin/Co-Founder
Affiliations: EMPOWERgmat
Joined: 19 Dec 2014
Posts: 15939
Location: United States (CA)
GMAT 1: 800 Q51 V49
GRE 1: Q170 V170
Re: A hand purse contains 6 nickels, 5 pennies and 4 dimes. What is the pr  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

12 Dec 2019, 14:19
Hi All,

We're told that a hand purse contains 6 nickels, 5 pennies and 4 dimes. We're asked for the probability of picking two coins OTHER than nickels if the first coin picked is NOT put back. This question is a straight-forward Probability question, so we just have to work step-by-step and do the necessary calculations...

There are 6+5+4 = 15 total coins.

The probability of NOT choosing a nickel on the first try is 9/15 = 3/5

Since we do NOT put that coin back, we have removed one non-nickel from the purse and the probability of NOT choosing a nickel on the second try is 8/14 = 4/7

Thus, the overall probability of pulling two NON-nickels is (3/5)(4/7) = 12/35

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
_________________
Contact Rich at: Rich.C@empowergmat.com

The Course Used By GMAT Club Moderators To Earn 750+

souvik101990 Score: 760 Q50 V42 ★★★★★
ENGRTOMBA2018 Score: 750 Q49 V44 ★★★★★
Re: A hand purse contains 6 nickels, 5 pennies and 4 dimes. What is the pr   [#permalink] 12 Dec 2019, 14:19
Display posts from previous: Sort by