ExamVeda
Login
Home
This question belongs to Arithmetic Ability Probability
Probability
?

A box contains 100 balls, numbered from 1 to 100. If three balls are selected at random and with replacement from the box, what is the probability that the sum of the three numbers on the balls selected from the box will be odd?

Answer & Solution
Correct Answer: Option A
$$P({\text{odd}}) = P({\text{even}}) = \frac{1}{2}$$     (because there are 50 odd and 50 even numbers)
Sum or the three numbers can be odd only under the following 4 scenarios:
$$\eqalign{ & {\text{odd}} + {\text{odd}} + {\text{odd}} \cr & = \frac{1}{2} \times \frac{1}{2} \times \frac{1}{2} \cr & = \frac{1}{8} \cr & {\text{odd}} + {\text{even}} + {\text{even}} \cr & = \frac{1}{2} \times \frac{1}{2} \times \frac{1}{2} \cr & = \frac{1}{8} \cr & {\text{even}} + {\text{odd}} + {\text{even}} \cr & = \frac{1}{2} \times \frac{1}{2} \times \frac{1}{2} \cr & = \frac{1}{8} \cr & {\text{even}} + {\text{even}} + {\text{odd}} \cr & = \frac{1}{2} \times \frac{1}{2} \times \frac{1}{2} \cr & = \frac{1}{8} \cr} $$
Other combinations of odd and even will give even numbers.
Adding up the 4 scenarios above:
$$\eqalign{ & = \frac{1}{8} + \frac{1}{8} + \frac{1}{8} + \frac{1}{8} \cr & = \frac{4}{8} \cr & = \frac{1}{2} \cr} $$
Examveda
Question posted by Examveda
Community

Join the Discussion

1 Comment
Santosh Santu
Santosh Santu 6 years ago
Do the order matters in the question? as it wasn't asked, we have to look in to the odd number after the summation.