Math questions from any Manhattan Prep GMAT Computer Adaptive Test.
JOHN.T.SNIPES
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Bill has a small deck...

by JOHN.T.SNIPES Thu Oct 06, 2011 2:30 pm

Can someone show me how to solve this problem using factorials?

Bill has a small deck of 12 playing cards made up of only 2 suits of 6 cards each. Each of the 6 cards within a suit has a different value from 1 to 6; thus, for each value from 1 to 6, there are two cards in the deck with that value. Bill likes to play a game in which he shuffles the deck, turns over 4 cards, and looks for pairs of cards that have the same value. What is the chance that Bill finds at least one pair of cards that have the same value?
8/33
62/165
17/33
103/165
25/33


I seem to be struggling w combination problems largely in deciding what the best method of answering the question is and how to proceed (which is probably a product of my lack of understanding combination stuff in general). In retrospect I see that it makes sense to use the 'slot method' and to also find the probability of there NOT being any pairs. So basically:
(12/12)*(10/11)*(8/10)*(6/9)=16/33 and 1-16/33= 17/33 or C.

But I feel like I should be able to get to this same answer using some combination of x!/(x-n)!n! or something. Appreciate any help.
JOHN.T.SNIPES
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Re: Bill has a small deck...

by JOHN.T.SNIPES Sun Oct 09, 2011 11:59 am

anyone? bueller?
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Re: Bill has a small deck...

by 700+ Tue Oct 11, 2011 7:36 pm

jnelson0612
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Re: Bill has a small deck...

by jnelson0612 Sun Nov 20, 2011 12:06 am

Thanks 700+!
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