A bag contains ‘W’ white balls and ‘R’ red balls. Two players P1 and P2 alternately draw a ball from the bag, replacing the ball each time after the draw, till one of them draws a white ball and wins the game. 'P1' beings the game. The probability of P2 being the winner, is equal to
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
Probability of drawing a white ball at any draw
$=\frac{W}{W+R}$
Now, P2 can be the winner in general on 2rth, $r \geq 1$, draw.
That means in the first (2r - 1) draws no player draws a white ball and 2rth draw results in a white ball for P2.
If the corresponding probability is pr, then
$p_r=\left(\frac{R}{W+R}\right)^r . \left(\frac{R}{W+R}\right)^{r-1} . \left(\frac{W}{W+R}\right)$
$=\left(\frac{R}{W+R}\right)^{2 r} . \frac{W}{R}$
Hence, required probability
$=\sum\limits_{r=1}^{\infty} p_r=\frac{W}{R} \sum\limits_{r=1}^{\infty}\left(\frac{R}{W+R}\right)^{2 r}$
$=\frac{R}{(W+2 R)}$