Mathematics

Livingston

4 January, 14:24

A 5-column table with 4 rows. The columns are labeled sock 2 and the rows are labeled sock 1. Column 1 contains entries blank, b, b, w, w. Column 2 contains entries b, (b, b), (b, b), (w, b), (w, b). Column 3 contains entries b, (b, b), (b, b), (w, b), (w, b). Column 4 contains entries w, (b, w), (b, w), (w, w), (w, w). Column 5 contains entries w, (b, w), (b, w), (w, w), (w, w).

A drawer contains one pair of brown socks and one pair of white socks. The table shows the possible outcomes, or sample space, for choosing a sock, replacing it, and then choosing another sock.

If the first sock is not replaced, how many possible outcomes are there?

How many of these outcomes contain a matching pair of socks?