Let's break this down step by step.
First, let's understand the group:- Total people:
12- Men:
6- Women:
6- Exactly
1 man is bringing dessert
- Exactly
1 woman is bringing dessert
Now, the question asks: what is the probability of picking a woman OR a man who is NOT bringing dessert?
Let's count who qualifies:- ALL
6 women qualify (the question says "a woman" — it doesn't matter whether she's bringing dessert or not, she still counts)
- Men NOT bringing dessert:
6 total men minus
1 man bringing dessert =
5 men qualify
So favorable outcomes =
6 +
5 =
11The ONLY person who does NOT qualify is the
1 man who IS bringing dessert. He's not a woman, and he's not a man who is NOT bringing dessert.
Probability = 11/12Answer: EThe common mistake here is thinking women who bring dessert don't count. But re-read the question carefully — it says "a woman OR a man not bringing dessert." The dessert condition only applies to the men. ALL women qualify regardless of dessert status.
Key principle: In OR probability questions, always ask yourself — who is left OUT? Here, the only person excluded is the 1 dessert-bringing man. That's a much faster way to solve it: 12 - 1 = 11, so 11/12.