a bag contains seven red balls numbered 2,4,5,6,7,8,10 and three white balls numbered 1,3, and 9. If a ball is drawn, what is the probability the ball is white or the number on the ball is less than 3? Write your answer as a fraction in lowest terms.
To find the probability of drawing a white ball or a ball with a number less than 3, we need to determine the total number of favorable outcomes and the total number of possible outcomes.
1. Total number of favorable outcomes:
- There are 3 white balls (1, 3, and 9).
2. Total number of possible outcomes:
- There are a total of 10 balls in the bag (7 red and 3 white).
Now, let's calculate the probability:
Probability = (Number of favorable outcomes) / (Number of possible outcomes)
Number of favorable outcomes = 3 (from step 1)
Number of possible outcomes = 10 (from step 2)
Probability = 3 / 10
To express this as a fraction in lowest terms, we need to simplify it:
The numerator, 3, and the denominator, 10, have no common factors other than 1. Therefore, the fraction is already in its simplest form.
So, the probability of drawing a white ball or a ball with a number less than 3 is 3/10.