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Three students A, B and C can respectively solve 50%, 25% and 20% of the problems in a book. A particular problem is selected at random from the book. The probability that at least one of them will solve the problem is

Solution

✅ Correct Option: 3

Student A can solve 50% of problems, so P(A solves) = 12\frac{1}{2}

Student B can solve 25% of problems, so P(B solves) = 14\frac{1}{4}

Student C can solve 20% of problems, so P(C solves) = 15\frac{1}{5}

To find the probability that at least one of them solves the problem, use the complement approach:

P(at least one solves) = 1 − P(none solve)


The probability that each student fails to solve the problem:

P(A fails) = 1−121 - \frac{1}{2}

=12= \frac{1}{2}

P(B fails) = 1−141 - \frac{1}{4}

=34= \frac{3}{4}

P(C fails) = 1−151 - \frac{1}{5}

=45= \frac{4}{5}


Since the students work independently:

P(all fail) = P(A fails) × P(B fails) × P(C fails)

=12×34×45= \frac{1}{2} \times \frac{3}{4} \times \frac{4}{5}

=1240= \frac{12}{40}

=310= \frac{3}{10}


P(at least one solves) = 1−P(all fail)1 - P(\text{all fail})

=1−310= 1 - \frac{3}{10}

=710= \frac{7}{10}

Therefore, the probability that at least one of them will solve the problem is 710\frac{7}{10}.

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