There are 6 men and 7 women in a committee. 2 people need to be selected as…

2023

There are 6 men and 7 women in a committee. 2 people need to be selected as representatives of this committee. What is the probability that out of these two people one is a man and another is a woman?

  1. A.

    3/13

  2. B.

    7/26

  3. C.

    5/26

  4. D.

    7/13

Attempted by 29 students.

Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: D

Key idea: count the total number of 2-person selections and the number of selections with one man and one woman.

  • Combination method: Total ways to choose 2 from 13 = C(13,2) = 78. Favourable ways (one man and one woman) = 6 × 7 = 42. Probability = 42/78 = 7/13.

  • Sequential probability method (alternative): Probability of man then woman = (6/13) × (7/12). Probability of woman then man = (7/13) × (6/12). Sum = 2 × (6 × 7) / (13 × 12) = 84/156 = 7/13.

Answer: 7/13

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