

InterviewSolution
1. |
A natural number is chosen at random from amongst first 500. What is the probability that the number so chosen is divisible by 3 or 5? |
Answer» Given: Sample space is the set of first 500 natural numbers. n (S) = 500 Let ‘A’ be the event of choosing the number such that it is divisible by 3 n (A) = [500/3] = [166.67] = 166 {where [.] represents Greatest integer function} P (A) = n (A) / n (S) = 166/500 = 83/250 Let ‘B’ be the event of choosing the number such that it is divisible by 5 n (B) = [500/5] = [100] = 100 {where [.] represents Greatest integer function} P (B) = n (B) / n (S) = 100/500 = 1/5 Now, we need to find the P (such that number chosen is divisible by 3 or 5) P (A or B) = P (A ∪ B) By using the definition of P (E or F) under axiomatic approach (also called addition theorem) we know that: P (E ∪ F) = P (E) + P (F) – P (E ∩ F) ∴ P (A ∪ B) = P (A) + P (B) – P (A ∩ B) [Since, we don’t have value of P(A ∩ B) which represents event of choosing a number such that it is divisible by both 3 and 5 or we can say that it is divisible by 15.] n(A ∩ B) = [500/15] = [33.34] = 33 P (A ∩ B) = n(A ∩ B) / n (S) = 33/500 ∴ P (A ∪ B) = P (A) + P (B) – P (A ∩ B) = 83/250 + 1/5 – 33/500 = [166 + 100 – 33]/500 = 233/500 |
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