Three bags contain a number of red and white balls as follows: Bag 1 : 3 red balls, Bag 2 : 2 red balls and 1 white ball and Bag 3 : 3 white balls. The probability that bag $i$ will be chosen and a ball is selected from it is $\frac{i}{6}$, where $i = 1, 2, 3$. What is the probability that a red ball will be selected?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → $\frac{7}{18}$ ##
Bag 1 : 3 red balls and 0 white ball.
Bag 2 : 2 red balls and 1 white ball.
Bag 3 : 0 red ball and 3 white balls.
Let $E_1, E_2$ and $E_3$ be the events that bag 1, bag 2 and bag 3 is selected respectively and a ball is chosen from it.
$P(E_1) = \frac{1}{6}, P(E_2) = \frac{2}{6} \text{ and } P(E_3) = \frac{3}{6}$
Let $E$ be the event that a red ball is selected. Then, probability that red ball will be selected
$P(E) = P(E_1) \cdot P(E | E_1) + P(E_2) \cdot P(E | E_2) + P(E_3) \cdot P(E | E_3)$
$= \left( \frac{1}{6} \times \frac{3}{3} \right) + \left( \frac{2}{6} \times \frac{2}{3} \right) + \left( \frac{3}{6} \times 0 \right)$
$= \frac{1}{6} + \frac{2}{9} + 0$
$= \frac{3 + 4}{18} = \frac{7}{18}$