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A bag contains 6 red balls, 4 green balls and 10 blue balls. Three balls are drawn with replacement. The probability of getting at least 1 green ball is:

Solution

✅ Correct Option: 2

The bag contains:

  • Red balls = 6
  • Green balls = 4
  • Blue balls = 10
  • Total balls = 20

Three balls are drawn with replacement, meaning after each draw the ball is returned to the bag.


For "at least 1" problems, use the complement rule:

P(at least 1 green)=1−P(no green balls)P(\text{at least 1 green}) = 1 - P(\text{no green balls})


To find the probability of getting no green balls, the balls drawn must be either red or blue.

Non-green balls = 6 + 10 = 16 balls

For each draw:

P(not green)=1620=45P(\text{not green}) = \frac{16}{20} = \frac{4}{5}

Since the draws are independent (with replacement):

P(no green in all 3 draws)=45×45×45P(\text{no green in all 3 draws}) = \frac{4}{5} \times \frac{4}{5} \times \frac{4}{5}

P(no green in all 3 draws)=(45)3P(\text{no green in all 3 draws}) = \left(\frac{4}{5}\right)^3

P(no green in all 3 draws)=64125P(\text{no green in all 3 draws}) = \frac{64}{125}


Using the complement rule:

P(at least 1 green)=1−64125P(\text{at least 1 green}) = 1 - \frac{64}{125}

P(at least 1 green)=125125−64125P(\text{at least 1 green}) = \frac{125}{125} - \frac{64}{125}

P(at least 1 green)=61125P(\text{at least 1 green}) = \frac{61}{125}

Therefore, the probability of getting at least 1 green ball is 61125\frac{61}{125}.

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