Probability of Picking Melon or Lemon Flavored Sweets from a Packet

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Probability of Picking Melon or Lemon Flavored Sweets from a Packet

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Are you a fan of sweet treats but curious about the statistics behind picking specific flavors? Let's dive into a fun probability problem involving a packet of 25 sweets, with a mix of pineapple, melon, lemon, banana, and strawberry flavors. In this article, we'll explore the steps to determine the probability of picking a melon or lemon-flavored sweet. Understanding such basic statistical concepts can help you make sense of the world of probabilities in everyday life.

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Understanding the Problem

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The problem at hand is straightforward but can be a bit tricky when you're initially presented with it. We have a packet containing 25 sweets. The composition of the sweets is as follows:

" " " " 6 pineapple-flavored sweets " " 8 melon-flavored sweets " " 5 lemon-flavored sweets " " 3 banana-flavored sweets " " 3 strawberry-flavored sweets " " " "

The question is: If Tsepo picks a sweet without looking, what is the probability that he picks either a melon-flavored or a lemon-flavored sweet?

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Breaking Down the Problem

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Let's break down the problem step-by-step:

" " " " Identify the Total Number of Sweets: We know there are 25 sweets in total. " " Identify the Number of Favorable Outcomes: We need to count the total number of sweets that are either melon or lemon-flavored. " " Determine the Probability: The probability of picking a melon or lemon-flavored sweet is the ratio of the number of favorable outcomes to the total number of sweets. " " " "

Step-by-Step Calculation

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Step 1: Identify the total number of sweets.

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Total number of sweets 25

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Step 2: Identify the number of favorable outcomes (melon and lemon-flavored sweets).

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Number of melon-flavored sweets 8

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Number of lemon-flavored sweets 5

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Number of favorable outcomes 8 5 13

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Step 3: Determine the probability.

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Probability Number of favorable outcomes / Total number of sweets

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Probability 13 / 25

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Expressing this as a decimal:

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Probability 0.52

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Converting this to a percentage:

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Probability 0.52 * 100% 52%

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Conclusion

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Therefore, the probability that Tsepo picks either a melon-flavored or a lemon-flavored sweet is 13 out of 25, or 52%.

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Understanding such probabilities is not just about solving a problem; it's about recognizing patterns and making informed decisions in various situations. Whether you're in school, on the job, or in your personal life, the concept of probability can be a valuable tool in analyzing and predicting outcomes.

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Further Reading

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For more articles and tutorials on probability and statistics, check out the resources below:

" " " " Probability Tutorials " " Statistical Concepts Explained " " More Sweets Probability Problems " " " "

Stay curious and keep learning!