A student representative council consists of 8 girls and 6 boys. If an editorial board consisting of 5 persons is to be formed, what is the probability that the board consists of (a) 3 girls and 2 boys ; (b) either all girls or all boys.
Explanation
Total number of board members = 14 members. Number of editorial board members arrangement possible without restriction = \(^{14}C_{5}\) ways = \(\frac{14!}{5! (14 - 5)!} = \frac{14 \times 13 \times 12 \times 11 \times 10}{5 \times 4 \times 3 \times 2}\) = \(\text{2002 ways}\). (a) With 3 girls and 2 boys = \(^{8}C_{3} \times ^{6}C_{2} \implies \frac{8!}{3! (8 - 3)!} \times \frac{6!}{2! (6 - 2)!}\) = \(56 \times 15 = 840\) p(3 girls and 2 boys) = \(\frac{840}{2002}\) = \(\frac{60}{143}\) (b) Editorial board with all girls = \(^{8}C_{5}\) ways = \(\frac{8!}{5! (8 - 5)!} = 56\) p(all girls ) = \(\frac{56}{2002}\) With all boys = \(^{6}C_{5}\) ways = \(\frac{6!}{5! (6 - 5)!} = 6\) p(all boys) = \(\frac{6}{2002}\) p(either all boys or all girls) = \(\frac{56}{2002} + \frac{6}{2002} = \frac{31}{1001}\).