Probability/Combinatorics Problem

• January 16th 2008, 03:30 PM
shaehl
Probability/Combinatorics Problem
These are due by Friday, so any help would be appreciated. Here is the problem:

A local company has two job openings available, and 160 people apply. Of the applicants, 50 are women.

1. If two applicants are selected at random, what is the probability that both are men?

And,

2. If two persons are selected at random, what is the probability that exactly one is a woman?

For the first one, I divided 110!/2!108! by 160!/2!158!, but the answer was wrong. I am almost certain the formula and math are correct. For the second problem, I am just completely lost, I don't know how to modify the formula to account for needing only one woman for the two applicants.

• January 16th 2008, 05:52 PM
colby2152
Quote:

Originally Posted by shaehl
These are due by Friday, so any help would be appreciated. Here is the problem:

A local company has two job openings available, and 160 people apply. Of the applicants, 50 are women.

1. If two applicants are selected at random, what is the probability that both are men?

And,

2. If two persons are selected at random, what is the probability that exactly one is a woman?

For the first one, I divided 110!/2!108! by 160!/2!158!, but the answer was wrong. I am almost certain the formula and math are correct. For the second problem, I am just completely lost, I don't know how to modify the formula to account for needing only one woman for the two applicants.

1) $P(man)P(man) = \frac{110}{160}*\frac{109}{159}$
2) $P(woman)P(man) + P(man)P(woman) = 2\frac{50*110}{160*159}$