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07tiger
There are 3 dimes and 3 quarters in a coin purse. If 4 coins are chosen at random from the purse, what is the probability of getting more than 55 cents?
(1 Dime = 10 Cents ; 1 Quarter = 25 Cents)

A. 1/5
B. 1/20
C. 1/2
D. 19/20
E. 4/5

3 Dimes, 3 Quarters (3D, 3Q)

If we take only 1 quarter and all 3 dimes, we make exactly 55 cents. But we need more than 55 cents so we must take at least 2 quarters.

2 ways of making more than 55 cents:

Q, Q, D, D -> Probability = (3/6)*(3/5)*2 = 3/5 (Note that probability of picking 4 is the same as probability of discarding 2, a Q and a D)

Q, Q, Q, D -> Probability = (3/6)*(2/5) = 1/5 (The probability of picking these 3 is the same as the probability of discarding 2 Ds)

Total probability = 3/5 + 1/5 = 4/5

Answer (E)
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2 combinations of dimes & quarters are possible
1 dime & 3 quarters >>3c1*3c3 = 3 combinations
2 dimes & 2 quarters >> 3c2*3c2 = 9 combinations
Total 12 combinations

Sample space = 6c4 = 15 combinations

probability = 12/15=4/5

Ans:E
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How I approached this question was to first think what ways could I get more than 55 cents with the 3 dimes and 3 quarters in the purse if 4 coins are randomly chosen.
You need at least 2 quarters = 0.25*2 = 0.5 and a dime to have more than 55 cents.

So the only way to have NOT more than 55 cents here is to have 1 quarter and 3 dimes because there are only 3 dimes and 3 quarters, you can't select 0 quarters. The order of the selection of the coins doesn't matter here.
To allocate 3 spots for dimes out of 3 dimes = 3C3
To allocate 1 spot for quarter out of 3 quarters = 3C1
For the denominator you are picking 4 coins from 6 total coins because there are 3 quarters and 3 dimes in the purse = 6C4

Knowing this I did P(more than 55 cents) = 1 - \(\frac{(3C3 * 3C1)}{6C4}\)
P(more than 55 cents) = 1 - \(\frac{3}{15}\)
P(more than 55 cents) = \(\frac{4}{5}\)

Answer: E
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If you consider the possibilities, there are many ways to get more than 55 cents, but only one way to get exactly 55 cents (3 dimes and a quarter). And btw no ways of getting less than 55 cents. So, it's easier to do 1 minus the probability of getting exactly 55 cents.

Probability of getting 3 dimes and 1 quarter (choose 3 out of 3 dimes and 1 out of 3 quarters:

\(\frac{3!}{3!0!}\) * \(\frac{3!}{1!2!}\) = 3

Choosing 3 coins out of 6 total:

\(\frac{6!}{3!3!}\) =15

First value over the total value = \(\frac{1}{5}\)


1- \(\frac{1}{5}\) = \(\frac{4}{5}\)
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